A MAN appeared at court this morning charged with the murder of Darlington pensioner, Sybil Sibthorpe.

Lee Edward Grainger, of Elmfield Street, Darlington, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with the murder of the 80-year-old mother-of-two.

The 40-year-old did not enter any pleas and spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Magistrates committed the case to Teesside Crown Court and Mr Grainger was remanded in custody ahead of his appearance on Monday.

Two other men arrested at the scene on Haughton Road, in Darlington, on Wednesday have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Mrs Sibthorpe, the landlady of the property, was found in the rear of the garden suffering from head injuries.

She was a mother-of-two, from the Eastbourne area of the town, and wife of William Sibthorpe, 77.

Paying tribute to her earlier this week, Mr Sibthorpe told The Northern Echo his wife was "loved by all who knew her".

"We love her and that is tribute enough," he said.

"She was a lovely, hardworking woman and why anyone should want to hurt her, I don't know."