Two men have been charged in connection with the disappearance of a 21-year-old woman in Northern Ireland.

Chloe Mitchell was last seen by her family on the evening of Friday 2 June, and was captured on CCTV in the early hours of the following morning in the centre of Ballymena.

Last night, officers confirmed a murder inquiry had been launched after suspected human remains were discovered in the town.

A 26-year-old man has since been charged with murder, while a 34-year-old man has been charged with assisting offenders.

They are both due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court later this morning.

The discovery of suspected human remains comes after extensive searches across Ballymena over recent days.

Forensic officers attended a flat in the James Street area of Ballymena on Sunday evening.

The property had been cordoned off by police earlier in the week.

In an earlier statement after the suspected human remains were found, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar said: "While there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who was a high-risk missing person.

"Earlier this week we launched a criminal investigation into Chloe's disappearance. Tragically, we now have reason to believe that Chloe was murdered.

"Our thoughts are very much with Chloe's family and we have specialist officers providing them with support at this heart-breaking time.

"I would like to thank the community in Ballymena and the search and rescue teams for their help in trying to find Chloe."