A magician from Redruth and a church warden have been charged in connection with the murders of a teacher and his elderly neighbour.

Thames Valley Police launched a double murder inquiry in January into the deaths of 69-year-old Peter Farquhar, who worked as a guest lecturer at the University of Buckingham, and 83-year-old Ann Moore-Martin.

The two pensioners lived three houses apart in Manor Park in the village of Maids Moreton, near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, and died within a year and a half of each other.

Mr Farquhar died on October 26 2015 and Ms Moore-Martin died on May 12 2017.

Ben Field, 28, a church warden, and 32-year-old Martyn Smith, a magician, have been charged in connection with the two deaths and are due to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Field, of Wellingborough Road, Olney, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder Ms Moore-Martin and Mr Farquhar, one count of murder of Mr Farquhar, one count of attempted murder of Ms Moore-Martin, two counts of fraud and three counts of burglary.

Smith, of Penhalvean, Redruth, Cornwall, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder Ms Moore-Martin and Mr Farquhar, one count of murder of Mr Farquhar, one count of attempted murder of Ms Moore-Martin, one count of fraud, and two counts of burglary.

A 22-year-old man, from Olney, was also arrested on suspicion of one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count conspiring to commit fraud by false representation and one count of suspicion of fraud by false representation.

He has been released under investigation.