A man has been charged with the murder of the missing woman, Maggie Smythe, after a body was found in Breightmet.

A 40-year-old man named Christopher Taylor, of Greenroyd Avenue in Bolton, has been charged with the murder of Margaret Jean Smythe, known as 'Maggie'.

Taylor will appear at Bolton Magistrates Court on Monday February 4.

A 29-year-old man who was also arrested on suspicion of murder has been released under investigation.

A body was found near Red Lane in Breightmet on Friday. Detectives believe the body to be that of Maggie.

Formal identification of the body has yet to take place, but her family are aware of the discovery.

The 29-year-old, who works as a cleaner at Bolton Interchange and has a three-year-old daughter, was last seen by her mother after her partner dropped her off at home following a night out.

Maggie was reported missing after last being seen at her home on Swinside Road in Breightmet in the early hours of January 26.

The pair had a short conversation before her mother went to bed.

Later, her mother came downstairs again to find the lounge light on, but Maggie had gone.

On Wednesday 30 January, officers investigating her disappearance arrested two men aged 35 and 39 on suspicion of murder.

A major search operation began near the Red Bridge Pub on January 31.

Divers were deployed to Blackshaw Brooke lodge along with drones and police vehicles searching the wider area between Bury Old Road and Manor Gate Road, less than a mile from Maggie's home.