The husband of a police detective has been charged with her murder after the mother-of-three's body was discovered in a lake.

Leanne McKie, 39, a serving Greater Manchester Police officer, was found dead in Poynton Park, Cheshire on Friday.

Her husband, fellow officer Darren McKie, was arrested on suspicion of murder and has now been charged by detectives investigating the case.

The 43-year-old, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, is due before South and East Cheshire Magistrates' Court tomorrow. A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: 'Darren McKie was arrested in the early hours of Friday after the body of Leanne McKie was found in a lake at Poynton Park.

'He was subsequently charged with murder today and has been remanded in police custody to appear at South and East Cheshire Magistrates' Court tomorrow.'

Cheshire Police were called to Poynton Park at about 3.45am on Friday after reports of a body, which was soon identified as Mrs McKie.

The mother-of-three joined Greater Manchester Police in 2001 and worked in the force's serious sexual offences unit.

Neighbours said the couple had only moved into their Cheshire home a few weeks ago, after refurbishing the detached property. They had been renting a home nearby while the house was under renovation. One neighbour described Leanne as 'a lovely lady'. 

Earlier on Monday, police said they wanted to speak to a group of four people who walked past the lake off London Road Northat 12.15am on Friday.

Detectives said they were keen to hear from anyone who was in the area around Poynton Park between 11.30pm on September 28 and 3.30am the following day.

They also reiterated their appeal to anyone who believes they may have seen the mother-of-three's red Mini car.

The car's registration reads DA12 DFO, with detectives keen to speak to anyone who caught a glimpse of the vehicle on Thursday or Friday.