A MAN charged with the murder of Bewdley retired school teacher Betty Yates has been remanded in custody.

Stephen Farrow, 47, is also accused of killing South Gloucestershire vicar John Suddards.

Farrow, of no fixed address, appeared at at North Avon Magistrates' Court in Yate, Bristol this morning when he was remanded in custody.

During the hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and that he was of no fixed address.

He is due at Bristol Crown Court tomorrow, when he will have the right to make a bail application.

The double murder charge came after a team of officers from West Mercia Police quizzed Farrow, alongside Avon and Somerset Police, who held him in custody.

He is accused of murdering Mrs Yates in Bewdley between January 1 and 5 and the Rev Suddards in Thornbury between February 13 and 14. He also faces a charge of burglary relating to a property in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire between December 21, 2011 and January 3, this year.

Farrow, described in the national press as “a homeless drifter”, was arrested in Folkestone, Kent, at 4.20am on Sunday.

He was tracked down following a tip-off from a member of the public in response to a police appeal for his whereabouts.

The two murders were formally linked after the police forces worked together to examine similarities between them.

The body of Mrs Yates, 77, was found on January 4 and Mr Suddards, 59, was found on the morning of February 14.

Another man was questioned by West Mercia Police on February 2. He was released on bail without charge and his bail was cancelled yesterday.

Anyone with information on either death should call the police on 101 and ask for Avon and Somerset or West Mercia Police. Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.