A man is to face trial on a murder charge following a death in a town centre earlier this year.

Matthew Bourne, 21, denied at Chelmsford Crown Court murdering financial adviser William Richard Prosser, 36, of Diggle, near Oldham.

Mr Prosser died following an incident in Balkerne Passage, Colchester, after a night out with friends on April 9.

Bourne, of Point Clear Road, St Osyth, was granted conditional bail. His trial - expected to last up to ten days - is unlikely to take place before March next year.

Another man jointly accused of the murder had the charge against him dismissed during the hearing. Ross Perry, 21, from another address in Point Clear Road, St Osyth, was formally released by the court after the decision.