Builder in court on double murder charge

A builder was appearing in court today charged with murdering his estranged wife and her friend, police said.

Neil Langmead, 40, was charged last night with murdering wife Debbie Jones, 35, and Donna St John, 35.

He spent more than two weeks under police guard in hospital after the women's bodies were found in a burnt out house in Fort Mead Close, Barnstaple, Devon, on August 22.

Langmead, from Barnstaple, was arrested on August 31 but remained in North Devon District Hospital until Wednesday when he was taken into custody.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said he was due to appear at Barnstaple Magistrates' Court today.