A man has been charged with the murder of a pensioner in north London, following media reports a woman was found beheaded in a back garden.

Police declined to say how Palmira Silva, 82, was killed, but have said Thursday’s incident was not linked to terrorism.

Nicholas Salvador, 25, was charged with her murder on Friday and is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in London later on Saturday, police said in a statement.

He also faces a charge of assaulting a police officer.

Police discovered Silva’s body in the suburb of Edmonton after being alerted at midday by local residents who said a man with a knife was attacking a cat or dog.

Police evacuated residents from their homes as the man ran through a row of back gardens.

Scotland Yard said it was also investigating an attempted attack on two people at another house in the same road shortly before the attack on Silva.

Silva’s post-mortem is due to be held on Saturday.