Two teenagers have been charged with murder after a homeless 21-year-old was found beaten to death in a nature reserve.

Alex Macdonald, 18, from Regency Place, Maidstone, and Jimmy Buckley, also known as Penfold, 19, of Capell Close, Coxheath, appeared via video link at Medway Magistrates' Court this morning.

Razvan Sirbu, 21, was found dead at 7.15am on Sunday, May 7, in the Loose Valley Conservation Area of Tovil.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from blunt force trauma to the head and body.

Two boys, aged 14 and 15, who were also arrested in connection with the incident, have been bailed pending further inquiries until June 8.

A further person was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after midnight today in the Maidstone area. The man, aged 18 and of no fixed address, remains in police custody.

Macdonald, who was arrested in Woolage Green near Canterbury, and Buckley will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday.

It is thought Mr Sirbu had previously lived in the Gravesend area and had been an agency worker for 24-7 Employment Solutions which has offices in Tunbridge Wells and Gravesend.