A PRIMARY school teacher has today appeared in court accused of murdering her partner after his body was found buried in their back garden.

       Fiona Beal, 48, is alleged to have murdered her long-term partner Nick Billingham between October 30 and November 10 last year.

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       Nick Billingham's body was found in the garden of his and partner Fiona Beal's home in Northampton Credit: PA 4

       Forensics on the scene in Moore Street, Northampton Credit: PA

       The body was found in the garden of their house in Northampton on Saturday after four days of digging - and almost five months after the alleged murder.

       Beal was arrested 200 miles away at a hotel in Cumbria on Wednesday.

       Police were initially called to the house in Moore Street, where they began a search of the entire property.

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       Forensic officers and specialist search teams, including a cadaver dog, were deployed and a body was found buried in the rear garden.

       Dad-of-three Ian Young told how he was “absolutely freaked out” after finding out his neighbour was a murder suspect and a body had been buried in her back yard.

       Speaking to The Sun Online tonight he said: “I can’t believe this has happened. It's absolutely freaked me out and I'm now going to move. It’s shocking and very scary.

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       “I’ve got children aged 15, nine and 14 months and the older one is aware of what’s happened.”

       Beal spoke today only to give her name, age and address - the house in Moore Street where the body was found.

       She was remanded into custody to appear at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

       DCI Adam Pendlebury, from the major crime team of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, yesterday said: "Regrettably, I can confirm that a body has been found in the rear garden of the address.

       "We believe it to be that of a missing 42-year-old male, but formal identification has yet to take place.

       "Police officers have been conducting house-to-house inquiries in the area over the past couple of days.

       "This remains a complex and challenging investigation and we are appealing for anyone with any information to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 26 of March 16, 2022."

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       Neighbours have spoken of their shock Credit: PA 4

       Officers have been conducting house-to-house inquiries in the area Credit: PA