A man in his 60s has tonight been charged with murdering a Witney couple almost 20 years ago.

Dyfed-Powys Police said John Cooper, 64, would appear before magistrates on Friday accused of killing Peter and Gwenda Dixon in Pembrokeshire in 1989.

Cooper is also charged with killing Richard Thomas and his sister Helen at their burnt-out mansion near Milford Haven in 1985.

Cooper is further accused of two sex assaulats and five attemped robberies in Milford Haven.

Tonight the charges were welcomed by the Dixons' family.

Chief Supt Dean Richards read from a statement: "We, the family of Peter and Gwenda Dixon, have been informed today that following a review of their case a man has been charged with their murder.

"We welcome this development and are grateful to Dyfed-Powys Police for keeping us up to date during this investigation.

"We feel it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Mr and Mrs Dixon, of Moorland Road, Witney, were found shot dead at a coastal path beauty spot in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1989.

The alarm was raised by their son Timothy after the couple had not arrived home from their summer holiday in Little Haven above St Brides Bay in June 1989.

A huge search was launched before their bodies were found.

Mr Dixon, 51, had his hands tied behind his back and his wallet was missing, while Mrs Dixon, 52, had had her clothes partially stripped off her.

Both had been shot.

Hundreds of mourners paid their respects at Our Lady and St Hugh’s Church in Witney.

An inquest in 1990 recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Police have been re-investigating the killing and arrested Cooper on Wednesday.