The two youths, one an 18-year-old from Gillingham, Kent, and the other a 17-year-old from Surrey, will appear before Maidstone magistrates court on Saturday.

They were arrested by detectives on Wednesday within hours of the discovery of the 17-year-old's body near Hadlow Agricultural College, Tonbridge, Kent.

Mr Crookes, from Waldersdale, near Chatham, Kent, was last seen after a disco at the college he attended more than a fortnight ago. His disappearance sparked a huge search.

Fellow students helped scour neighbouring farmland last week as his family put up posters appealing for him to get in contact.

Police said they would not release further details of the accused teenagers until their appearance in court.