'Human remains' found in Francis Willis garden dig
Police digging in the garden of a missing 85-year-old man from Gateshead said they had recovered what appeared to be human remains.
Francis Willis, of Staindrop, on the Leam Lane Estate, has not been seen since the week beginning 15 August.
On Wednesday, Northumbria Police charged his son, also called Francis Willis, 62, of Carr Hill, Gateshead, with murder.
He was remanded in custody when he appeared in court.
Police searching for the 85-year-old's body erected a tent in the back garden of his house and forensic teams were at the scene.
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on Saturday.