A former police detective has been charged with murdering his partner.

The body of Detective Constable Heather Cooper, 33, who was originally from Acomb, York, was found by police in Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall, West Sussex, on Sunday evening.

Surrey Police said Peter Foster, 35, has been charged with the murder of the mother-of-two, who was on maternity leave from the force at the time of her death.

A post-mortem examination found she died from a blow to the head and a stab wound to the throat.

Miss Cooper, who lived with Foster in West Street, Haslemere, Surrey, joined Surrey Police in 2003 and worked in the Public Protection Investigation Unit based at Guildford police station.

Miss Cooper was a keen horse rider, having studied equestrian science at Bishop Burton College, in East Yorkshire, and she used to train horses at the Naburn Grange Riding Centre for many years, where she was known to be “popular, cheerful and bubbly”, her former instructor Denise Lancashire said.

Surrey and Sussex Assistant Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: “Heather’s death has had a profound effect on all who knew her and we are doing everything we can to support her family at this difficult time.

“She was an exceptional officer and much loved among her police colleagues, many of whom were also her friends.

“The police service is in many ways like a family.

“The death of any officer is always a time of sadness but to lose Heather under such circumstances has been particularly hard to bear.

“I cannot praise enough the professionalism of Heather’s friends and colleagues within the force, many of whom have continued to do their jobs at a time of personal grief.”

Foster was due to appear at Worthing Magistrates’ Court today.