A NORTH-EAST soldier has admitted killing a black railway worker outside a nightclub and seriously injuring his friend.

Private Wayne King, 20, from Middlesbrough, admitted the manslaughter of Glyne Agard, 34, following a brawl outside the club in Westbury, Wiltshire, on June 18 last year.

He also admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Gary Belgrave and one count of affray.

Private Thomas Myers, 20, from Hartlepool, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Stephen Agard, 33, brother of Glyne Agard, and one count of affray.

The two soldiers, from the Green Howards Regiment based at Warminster, Wiltshire, were acquitted of all other charges against them.

Mr Justice Steel, sitting at Bristol Crown Court, adjourned sentencing to a later date while pre-sentence reports are prepared.

Outside court, Mr Belgrave's mother, Marilyn, said the attack was "unprovoked, senseless and racially motivated" and the family believes the Army has a lot to answer for.

"This racist attack highlights the need for urgent action against racism within the Army," she said.

The court had heard that King admitted starting the fight by headbutting and punching Mr Agard after a woman told the soldiers she had been attacked by a black man.

King and Myers had originally been charged with murder.

The judge directed the jury to acquit Myers of murder and to accept the alternative plea by King to manslaughter.

Michael Birnbaum, representing King, said: "He feels a profound sense of moral responsibility for what went on."

Two other soldiers - Private Marc Hunter, 18, from Hartlepool, and Lance Corporal David White, 23, from Stockton - were both acquitted of murder and violent disorder.