A 25-year-old appeared in court today and denied killing a man in the region.

Michael Reeves, of Palmerston Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Michael Burrup, of Stanhope, County Durham at Teesside Crown Court today.

Mr Reeves was granted conditional bail and his case adjourned for a date to be set for the four-day trial, which is expected to take place early next year.