A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of two women in one night.

Alan Bennett, 34, has been accused of the murders of Lynne Freeman, 46, and Jodie Betteridge, 30, who both died after being attacked in separate attacks in Redcar on Wednesday.

Bennett appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court for a one minute hearing on Saturday, where he confirmed his name and address, and will remain in custody until Tuesday when he is due back at Teesside Crown Court at 10am.