A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman and her daughter who died at the weekend.

Jack Ralph appeared via video link at Medway Magistrates’ Court this morning accused of killing Margaret Harris, 78, and her daughter 55-year-old Sharon during an attack in the sleepy village of Hadlow on Saturday.

The 28-year-old, wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and was remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday.

Detectives launched a murder investigation following reports of a stabbing in Carpenters Lane at around 7.40am.

The air ambulance landed and took Margaret’s husband David to a hospital in London after he suffered serious injuries.

Ralph, of Carpenters Lane, has also been charged with Mr Harris’s attempted murder.

Yesterday his condition was described by police as stable.