Fiance of author Helen Bailey charged with her murder after her body was found with her dog in the family's septic tank in Royston, Herts.

Police were unaware of the existence of the tank until neighbours revealed a former resident told them it was there.

Ian Stewart, who is 55 years old and from Baldock Road in Royston, has been charged with murdering 51 year old author Helen Bailey in Royston, on April 11, 2016.

With two further offences - perverting the course of justice (reporting Helen Bailey as missing to police and hiding her body) and preventing lawful burial. 

A post-mortem is due to take place on Monday, July 18 and specialist searches at her home continue.

Ian Stewart will appear before Hatfield Remand Court today (July 16).

15/07/2016 - Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit investigating the murder of author Helen Bailey have today (July 15) found what is believed to be a body within the grounds of her home in Royston.

He was been re-arrested on suspicion of murdering when the body was found after weeks of searching.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fullwood, who leads the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: “Helen’s family have been updated of this significant development and are continuing to receive support from specialist family liaison officers. As you can fully appreciate this will be an extremely difficult time for them and they have requested their privacy be respected at this time.

The 51-year-old writer, who created the Electra Brown series for teenagers, was last seen walking her dog near her home in Royston, Hertfordshire, on 11 April.

Bailey, 51, who wrote the Electra Brown and Daisy Davenport series, was reported missing by her partner, Ian Stewart, 55, on 15 April, four days after he said he had last seen her at home.

Forensics teams searched the home she shared with her partner, Ian Stewart, and a holiday home the couple own in Broadstairs, Kent.

It is believed the Northumberland-born author left her Royston house to take her miniature dachshund for a walk.

She had left a note saying she wanted some time on her own and was going to stay at their holiday home in Broadstairs.

Mr Stewart reported her missing four days later having travelled to Kent and established she had not been there.