A 46-year-old man has been charged with murder after human remains were found in a burnt-out car belonging to a missing Victoria man.

The vehicle, found pushed back from the side of a road near Bendigo on Wednesday, was owned by 47-year-old William Stevenson, of Kerang, who has been missing since Christmas Day.

Two people were taken into custody following the car’s discovery, and police have charged a Wellsford man with murder.

He is due to appear at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles told reporters at the scene on Thursday that the remains are those of a man but no cause of death had been determined.

Det Sen Sgt Iddles said the vehicle was moved by another vehicle after it was set on fire.

“If someone has moved the car, they are not in trouble, we just need to eliminate all possibilities,” he said.

The fact that nobody had reported the fire was “odd”, he said.

Mr Stevenson was last seen by friends and was reported missing after he failed to turn up to work.