A MAN has tonight been charged with murdering a woman who was found dead in a block of flats in Middlesbrough.

Police launched an investigation after being called to Clairville Road, close to Albert Park, just after 5pm on Monday.

Scene of Crimes officers spent most of today carrying out a fingertip search of the property, which is split into six apartments.

The woman has not been formally identified and the results of a post mortem carried today have not been made public.

Residents in the quiet residential area were shocked at the news.

Brenda Johnson, who lives on Clairville Road, said: "It was quite unusual to find police cars in the street, usually not much happens around here.

"I don't know the people who live in the flats but I have heard plenty of rumours about what happened.

"It is a shock that something like that could happen here."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named said: "You see people coming and going from the flats but they don't really have anything to do with the rest of the people in the street.

"It's really unusual for the police to be in the street."

Police tape has been drawn across the drive of the property while investigations continue, but other residents were free to come and go as they please.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said tonight that a 49-year-old man has been charged with murder. He will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.