A 31-YEAR-OLD woman has been charged with the manslaughter of her former partner after his body was found in a North Yorkshire river earlier this month.

Christine Rhodes, of Church Crescent, Stutton, near Tadcaster, will appear before Selby magistrates tomorrow charged with the manslaughter of Paul David Butterfield, 30.

Mr Butterfield, of Acomb, York, was reported to have fallen off the bridge over the River Wharfe in the centre of Tadcaster on Tuesday, March 7.

Police said he was sitting on the parapet when he plunged into the fast-flowing Wharfe at about 7pm.

His disappearance sparked a huge search involving police frogmen and the police dog section, and a helicopter from West Yorkshire Police.

Several days after he went missing, police announced they had arrested a 31-year-old woman and questioned her about the fall, and also about an incident in nearby Bridge Street.

Mr Butterfield's body - which had to be formally identified through dental records - was discovered on Sunday, April 2, by a police dog handler walking along the river bank.

The body had got caught in some bushes opposite Grimston Park Garden Centre about three-quarters of a mile down river from Tadcaster.

The underwater search unit from York was called in and recovered the body, which was then taken to York District Hospital.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Guy Rutty failed to establish the cause of death, and detectives are still waiting for the results of toxicology tests.

An inquest was opened on April 6 and adjourned.

Mr Butterfield and Miss Rhodes shared a home with their young daughter in Stutton, before he moved out to a flat in Carr Lane, Acomb.

It is believed Mr Butterfield used to work as assistant manager at William Hill's bookmakers shop in Tadcaster.

His parents live in a village near the brewery town.

Miss Rhodes was charged with manslaughter last night at Fulford Road police station, York, by Selby detectives. She was bailed to appear before Selby magistrates at 10am tomorrow.