Police have charged a man with murder after a body was discovered in a block of flats earlier this week.

Detectives were called to the Cherry Tree House flats in Bybrook Road at 6.40am on Monday, May 16 and carried out forensics searches for several hours at the ground floor flat.

They were responding to concerns for a 51-year-old man, who has since been named locally as Lee Walden.

Now they have charged 38-year-old Darren McKay, of Beecholme Drive in Ashford, of the murder, and he is due to appear before a virtual court today (Friday, May 20).

Meanwhile a 32-year-old woman from Ashford was also arrested and has been bailed until Thursday, June 16 while further enquiries are carried out.

It is believed that both McKay and the woman were known to Lee Walden. Paramedics had been called to the flats, but found Mr Walden dead at the scene.

He is believed to have suffered head injuries, and police say work is ongoing to find his next of kin.

A police spokesman said: “We will not be commenting on speculation as to the nature of the attack, or as to whether the suspects were a couple.”

Neighbour Vicci Lown, who has lived in the same block of Ashford Borough Council-owned flats for three years said Lee Walden was someone she knew well.

She said: “We didn’t hear any sirens. The first we heard of anything was when police knocked on our door at 7am in the morning. Normally it is a pretty quiet area.”

The council are assisting police with the inquiry. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police on 101, quoting incident number 17-0125 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.