A man and woman from Hitchin have been remanded in custody today after being charged with conspiracy to murder Gosmore man William ‘Bill’ Taylor.

Angela Taylor, aged 52, of Charlton Road, and Paul Cannon, aged 53, of Pirton Road did not enter a plea when appearing at Hatfield Remand Court this morning.

At the hearing they were remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance – to be held at St Albans Crown Court on Monday, January 7.

The pair were rearrested by police on Friday and charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Taylor, following his disappearance this summer.

Two further men – aged 18 and 23, also from Hitchin – were arrested by officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit but released on bail while enquiries continue.

Farmer William Taylor, known to many as Bill, was last seen at his home in Gosmore at around 9pm on Sunday, June 3 – shortly before his 70th birthday. He was reported missing to police the following day.

Since then, extensive enquiries and searches have been carried out in the effort to locate him before information led officers to launch a murder investigation.

William’s body has not yet been found and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to contact Herts police via the non-emergency number 101. You can also submit information at mipp.police.uk/operation/824.