Detectives investigating the disappearance of a 71-year-old woman from Potters Bar have charged two men with her murder.

Mohamed El Abboud, 26, of Gallants Farm Road, Barnet, and Kusai Al-jundi, 23, of Wood End Road, Harrow, have both been charged with the murder of Louise Kam.

Louise Kam, a mother-of-two, was last seen by a family member near the Spires Shopping Centre in Chipping Barnet at around 12.30pm on Monday, July 26.

Police previously said she had been believed to have driven from Borehamwood to Barnet before making her way to the area of Willesden High Road on the afternoon of 26 July.

The BMW was recovered by police on Wednesday 28 July in north-west London.

Ms Kam's family say her disappearance is "entirely out of character".

El-Abboud, 26, and Al-Jundi, 23, have both been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the charges at Willesden Magistrates' Court today.

El-Abboud, from East Barnet, appeared in the dock today wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit and a silver stud in his left ear and was helped by an Arabic interpreter.

Al-Jundi appeared separately from the co-defendant, and also wore a grey prison-issue tracksuit in the dock.

District Judge Denis Brennan said: "That is the matter that, as you know, it can only be tried at the Central Criminal Court. I can't deal with bail at all.

"You [the defendants] will be remanded in custody to appear at the Central Criminal Court on August 4 where that court will consider the ball position.

"The plea and trial preparation hearing will be on the 27 August."

Police forensic officers have been seen working at an address in Gallants Farm Road, East Barnet, over the weekend.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said before the hearing: "Detectives investigating the disappearance of a 71-year-old woman from Hertfordshire have charged two men with her murder.

"Mohamed El Abboud, 26, of Gallants Farm Road, Barnet, and Kusai Al-Jundi, 23, of Wood End Road, Harrow, have both been charged with the murder of Louise Kam.

"Louise Kam was last seen by a family member near the Spires Shopping Centre in Barnet at around 12.30hrs on Monday, July 26."