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A man and a woman have been charged with murder after the badly-burnt body of a 21-year-old French nanny was found in a garden.

Sophie Lionnet, from Troyes in north-eastern France, came to Britain to work as an 'au pair' more than a year ago, according to reports.

Her remains were found by police who were called by neighbours concerned by a fire behind a flat in Southfields, London, on Wednesday evening.

Ouissem Medouni, 40, and Sabrina Kouider, 34, were arrested at the scene and have now been charged with murder.

They will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

(Image: Facebook)

A woman told the Daily Mail her eight-year-old son had seen the blaze and climbed a fence to get a better look.

"My young son called out, 'If you are having a barbecue, are we allowed to come?," she said.

"I told him, 'no that’s not a barbecue, that’s a bad smell'."

(Image: PA)

Another neighbour in the converted Victorian building said he called his landlord to report a "gassy smell".

Police arrived at around 6.30pm and said they found a "badly-burned body" in the back garden.

The victim was identified locally as Sophie Lionnet.

(Image: PA)

She was described as a "very polite, pleasant girl" who "looked about 13 but was actually in her early 20s."

Superintendent Peter Gardner said: "I fully appreciate the concern that this investigation will cause in the local community.

"Specialist investigators will be carrying out work at the scene whilst local neighbourhood officers will be patrolling in and around the area to help reassure residents and, where possible, respond to their concerns."

Anyone with information can call the police on 0208 721 4843 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.