Tracey Woodford murder: Man charged with murder after dismembered remains found in flat

Christopher May, 50, has been charged with murder and is due to appear at Pontypridd Magistrates' Court on Monday

Photo issued by South Wales Police of Tracey Woodford, whose dismembered body was found at a flat in south Wales (PA)

A man has been charged with the murder of a woman whose dismembered remains were found in a flat in South Wales.

The remains of Tracey Woodford, 47, were found on Friday, two days after she was reported missing, when a police officer searched a flat in Graig, in the Pontypridd area.

Christopher May, 50, has been charged with her murder and is due to appear at Pontypridd Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Detectives are awaiting the results of forensics tests to determine the cause of death and have repeated their appeal for witnesses.

Ms Woodford, from the Pontypridd area, was last seen by family at about 12.45pm on Tuesday and reported missing the following day.

A police officer searching a flat at Andrews Court, Rickards Street, Graig, discovered her dismembered body just before 3pm on Friday.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said officers were waiting for the results of further forensic tests to determine the cause of Ms Woodford's death.

Detectives are anxious to establish her movements last week and want to speak to anyone who saw her in the Skinny Dog pub between 9pm and 11pm on Tuesday.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley, who heads the investigation, said: "I would like anybody who hasn't already come forward to get in touch. I am keen to establish Tracey's movements over the past week.

"We have received significant support from the public who have no doubt been traumatised by what has unfolded. I would like to thank them for this support and assure them that we are doing everything we possibly can to find out exactly what happened to Tracey.”

Earlier on Sunday, Ms Woodford’s family paid tribute to her in a statement which said: "Tracey was liked and loved by all of her family and friends. She was very kind-hearted and a selfless person who would go out of her way to help anyone.

"Tracey was a gentle person who would not hurt anyone and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her."