Murder charge laid after bones found in cold case

Bones have been found in the search for Susan Goodwin, who vanished in 2002. (HANDOUT/SA POLICE)

Police have charged a man with murder, hours after bones were found during a search for the remains of a woman who vanished more than 20 years ago.

The breakthrough in the cold case was made late on Wednesday following the discovery of human remains, believed to be those of Susan Goodwin, 39, buried in the backyard of a house in Port Lincoln, South Australia.