A woman found dead in Broadstairs was strangled and beaten, it has emerged as her estranged husband faces a murder charge.

A post mortem into her death has officially revealed the cause of popular Anne-Marie Birch's death on November 7.

The 47-year-old's body was discovered at a house in Whiteness Road, Kingsgate, at about 1.30pm.

The post mortem found she died from "ligature compression of the neck and blunt forced trauma to the head."

Her husband Lee Birch, 55, has been charged with her murder and remanded in custody.

Mrs Birch, who ran a micropub in Westgate, was described as the "kindest, sweetest human being" by relatives.

In a statement released through Kent Police, her family said: "Anne-Marie was a much-loved and devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend."

The couple, who have a teenage daughter, ran the Why Not? micropub in Lymington Road, Westgate, for nine months until it closed in September for financial reasons.

Lee Birch, of Lymington Road, Westgate, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court last week.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Canterbury Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on January 28.

Earlier, Kent Police said the force has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission "as is mandatory in cases where there has been previous police contact with the victim".