A PENSIONER will face a trial later this year after he denied murdering his ex-partner's toddler almost 50 years ago.

David Dearlove, 70, also pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of 19-month-old Paul Booth, from Haverton Hill, near Stockton, who died in hospital in October 1968.

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court via a live videolink to his home town of Great Yarmouth, Dearlove also denied a child cruelty charge against Paul, and similar charges against two other children.

Dearlove, wearing a blue and white striped jumper, entered clear not guilty pleas to all five counts that he faces.

The court was told that a trial expected to last up to three weeks was scheduled for November 13.

Dearlove's bail was extended by Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, in the meantime.

At a previous hearing it was said that Dearlove was the then partner of Paul's mother, who died in the 1990s.

He lives in Great Yarmouth with his wife of 36 years and has no previous convictions, it was said at the last hearing.