Jill Grinstead, 62, was discovered at her house in Collier's Wood, south London, on Thursday, after a neighbour noticed her door was open and a window had been smashed.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as asphyxia and blunt facial trauma.

Christopher McMahon, of Laburnum Road, London SW19, will appear at Sutton Magistrates' Court charged with murder.

Anyone with information about Mrs Grinstead's death should contact the Incident Room on 020 8721 4155 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.