A man has been charged with wasting police time after allegedly making three hoax calls to officers investigating the disappearance of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Howard Youd, from Hope near Wrexham, north Wales, was arrested on 16 August after Cambridgeshire Police received calls from a man claiming to have kidnapped the 10-year-olds.

He [Howard Youd] is due to appear before magistrates in Wrexham on 7 October

North Wales Police

The disappearance of the best friend's two months ago sparked one of Britain's biggest manhunts, involving more than 400 officers from 21 forces.

During the investigation, detectives received more than 14,000 calls.

School caretaker Ian Huntley, 28, was charged with the girls' murders after their bodies were discovered in remote fenland in Suffolk two weeks after they vanished.

Caretaker Ian Huntley is charged with murder

His girlfriend Maxine Carr, 25, has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Youd, 45, is accused of making the hoax calls to detectives in Cambridgeshire on 15 and 16 August.

A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: "He (Mr Youd) was arrested and charged by North Wales Police.

"He is due to appear before magistrates in Wrexham on 7 October."