Man charged with girl's murder

Gemma Clarke was found dead on Thursday

A 33-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a teenage girl found stabbed to death in a Somerset country lane.

Darren Cornelius of Lambrook Road, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, was remanded in custody by magistrates in Yeovil, Somerset.

Gemma Clarke, 16, was found by a horse rider in a ditch next to a field on the edge of the hamlet of West Lambrook, near South Petherton, on Thursday.

Mr Cornelius, who was arrested on Friday is due to appear at Bristol Crown Court on 12 March.

Gemma worked at the Nag's Head pub

Gemma, of Mady Farm, Martock, was a year 11 pupil at Stanchester Community School in of Stoke sub Hamdon.

She was due to sit her GCSE exams this summer.

She also worked part-time as a catering assistant at the nearby Nag's Head pub.

Gemma went missing after leaving work on Wednesday night.

Her body was found two miles from her home.

A post-mortem examination revealed she died as a result of being stabbed.