A CANVEY man will stand trial later this year after he appeared in court to deny a charge of murder.

Anthony Ayres, 48, is accused of murdering Kelly Pearce, who died from a blow to the head and a stab wound to her neck after an incident at a flat in Fairlop Avenue, Canvey.

Wearing a prison-issue grey sweatshirt, Ayres spoke only to confirmhis name and to enter a not guilty plea during a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

Kelly, 36, died at the Royal London Hospital less than three hours after she was found on Thursday, November 19.

With his plea necessitating a trial, Judge Christopher Ball remanded him in custody until the next hearing in two months.

A progression hearing will take place on Monday, April 4, with Ayres, of Fairlop Avenue, due to stand trial on Tuesday, May 3. Mother-of-one Kelly, of North Avenue, was a former pupil at Furtherwick Park School on Canvey.

Speaking earlier this month, her mother Lynne Wallings, who lives on the island, said she had been touched by the support she has received from friends, family and total strangers since Kelly’s death.

A fundraising appeal, set up by friends to help fund Kelly’s funeral and to support her family, has raised more than £2,800.

Ms Wallings said: “We are absolutely in bits but we have had excellent support from friends and family and people I don’t even know have been to see me. The community on Canvey have been absolutely outstanding.”

Kelly’s funeral is due to take place at Pitsea Crematorium on Monday, February 22, at 1.20pm.