An 18-year-old man has been charged this evening with the murder of Cheryl Tariah, who was found strangled in a Barkingside flat.

He will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Cheryl, 17, was found dead in a flat above the Buy Labels For Less clothes store in High Street at around 4pm on Tuesday.

Police were called to the flat on Tuesday following reports of a “disturbance”.

Cheryl, of Dunlowe Avenue, Tottenham, went to Chelmsford College where she was studying art.

In a statement released on Friday college principal David Law said: “Since her death, tributes from staff and students have been pouring in.

“Professional counselling has been in place this week and additional support is being provided, at this very testing time, by the college chaplain.

“We will continue to provide counselling for as long as students and staff need it.

He added: “Fellow students have described her as a lovely bubbly girl.

“She was a strong and bold personality, well-liked by both her peers and the teaching staff.

“In her short time at the college her talent for fashion was abundantly clear.

“She wanted to be a brilliant fashion designer and, given the opportunity, she would undoubtedly have fulfilled her ambition. She is sadly missed.”

A post-mortem carried out at Walthamstow Mortuary on Wednesday gave the cause of death as compression of the neck.

• A 21-year-old man arrested on Tuesday in connection with the investigation was released on Friday morning with no further action to be taken.