A MAN has been remanded in custody after he appeared in court accused of murdering Lyndsay Kennedy.

The 40-year-old father-of-two, of Penshaw Gardens, East Stanley, County Durham, was found dead at 7am on Tuesday behind the Harperley Hotel near Tanfield Lea, County Durham, having suffered head and other injuries.

Donald Storm, 37, of York Street, Catchgate, Stanley, appeared at Consett Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with murder.

His case was committed to Newcastle Crown Court on February 10.

The detective leading the investigation into the death of Mr Kennedy yesterday appealed for help in piecing together the victim's movements in the hours before he died.

Mr Kennedy was a passenger in a dark Vauxhall Corsa that came off a minor road near the hotel at about 10.30pm on Monday.

The vehicle -registration number NU55 EEB -came to a stop in a ditch. The two occupants escaped injury and the car suffered no apparent damage.

Mr Kennedy's body was found the next morning under a bush more than 100 yards from the scene of the accident.

Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin said: "The last sighting we have at present puts him in the car at about 7.30pm in York Street, Catchgate, on Monday.

"We are keen to establish where he was and who he was with throughout Monday and would appeal to anyone who can help us to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to ring 0845 60 60 365.