A MAN has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead at a property in a town near York.

Rick Parker, aged 39, of Market Weighton has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Helen Harrison and was remanded into custody to appear at Hull Magistrates' Court today (March 9).

Parker has also been charged with actual bodily harm in connection with an alleged assault on a man on Sunday, February 19.

Following the first hearing in court today, Parker has been placed on remand in custody and a second hearing will be held at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court in Hull tomorrow (March 10).

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "We were called to reports of a concern for safety at a property in Aspen Close in Market Weighton on Sunday, March 5.

"Upon attending, sadly it was discovered that Helen Harrison had sustained fatal injuries.

"Due to previous contact we had with the victim, a mandatory referral has been made to the IOPC."

Ms Harrison, 59, was named by Humberside Police officers yesterday. Her family continue to be supported by specialist trained officers and have asked for privacy, the force said.

Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) Doug Blackwood said: “We understand that a tragic incident of this nature will cause shock and concern to the local community, but I would like to reassure people that this is an isolated incident between individuals known to each other with no wider risk to members of the public."