The body of a man discovered in a river has now been formally identified as a missing millionaire farmer.

The body was confirmed to be William 'Bill' Taylor's after a member of the public found him in a river in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, on the afternoon of Sunday, February 10.

Gwyn Griffiths, aged 59, from Folkestone, has also been charged with conspiracy to murder and assisting offenders in connection with Mr Taylor's death. He is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on March 4.

Mr Taylor disappeared from his £1.2m home in Gosmore, Hertfordshire, at around 9pm on June 3 - just days before his 70th birthday.

He was reported missing to police the following day.

It later emerged the grandfather's Land Rover Defender was deliberately torched in the days before he went missing.

William Taylor's estranged wife, Angela Taylor, aged 52, from Hitchin and Paul Cannon, aged 53, also from Hitchin, are both charged with arson, murder and conspiracy to murder.

They are due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on April 8.

A 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old man were previously arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but were later released on police bail.

Mr Taylor’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Police say extensive inquiries have been carried out at the scene by officers from the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Major Crime Unit.