A man has been charged with the murder of a woman in Alderney, police have said.

The body of 34-year-old Hannah Benfield, née Cox, was found in the sea at the base of cliffs in the west of the island on Monday.

Guernsey Police said Alderney resident Simon Benfield, 44, had been charged with her murder.

It is the first murder investigation in Alderney in about 30 years, according to police.

The most northerly of the Channel Islands, Alderney has a population of about 2,000.

Police said Alderney had "a strong identity of its own" and the murder "will be felt particularly deeply across such a close-knit community".

"Police officers and specialist staff will therefore remain in Alderney over the coming days, both to continue investigative inquiries and to provide a visible policing presence and reassurance to residents," the force said in a statement.

"We would encourage anyone in Alderney who has information which they believe may assist the investigation, however insignificant it may appear, to speak directly with one of the officers on the island or contact Guernsey Police."

Hannah's family, which runs Alderney Farm Shop, said: "We just want to say the biggest thank you to everyone who has supported us over these last few days.

"It's been an unimaginably painful week and the kindness, messages, hugs, offers of help and simple acts of support from people across the island have meant more than we can say.

"Our incredible staff are much more than staff... they're our extended family. We're looking after each other, getting through this together and doing what we know Hannah would want us to do."

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