Residents of a quiet Dagenham street have told of their shock after a neighbour was charged with murdering her dad.

Clair Darbyshire, 36, allegedly suffocated her dad Brian by putting a plastic bag over his head at their home in Wykeham Green.

She had acted as a carer for the 67-year-old, who suffered from multiple sclerosis.

Driving instructor Raja Ali, 49, who lives next door to the family, was shocked to hear the allegations.

“We knew he had been ill for a while so hadn’t really seen him for a while but we said hello to the daughter – she seemed nice.

“We’re absolutely shocked, it’s taken everyone by surprise.

“We normally heard him coughing, but we hadn’t heard that for while.”

A 47-year-old neighbour who asked not to be named said: “I couldn’t believe it when the police told us.

“I hadn’t seen the gentleman for a long while and I knew he had been ill, so when they came round I just assumed he had passed away.

“But never anything like this – it’s quite scary.”

Insurance underwriter Terri Din, 33, added: “This is a really quiet area, we just can’t believe it.”

Darbyshire was charged with murder when she appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday.

She had been remanded in custody until November 30 for a plea and case management hearing.

A provisional trial date has been set for February 15, with the case not expected to last longer than two weeks.