A 63-year-old man from Lewisham has been charged with murdering two pensioners who died in 1993.

Ann Castle, 74, and her brother William Bryan, 71, were found dead in their flat in Bethnal Green after an apparent botched burglary.

Danville Neil, 63, of Sandrock Road, appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday accused of murdering the siblings and burglary.

A post-mortem examination at the time gave Mrs Castle’s cause of death as ischaemic heart disease and said that Mr Bryan died from asphyxia and ischaemic heart disease.

Police said at the time of the discovery of the sibling's bodies that they were found sitting side-by-side in chairs.

Both were found by a neighbour who became suspicious when they did not answer the door and the lights were left on.

Scotland Yard put out appeals for information at the time, but no one was charged until yesterday, some 28 years later.

The Metropolitan Police said that Neil was arrested in October last year after existing evidence was submitted for re-examination, and charged on Tuesday.

He will appear at the Old Bailey on Friday.