A MAN accused of murdering a 25-year-old whose body was found buried in a shallow grave nearly two months after he went missing has denied the charge.

Daniel Dodsworth, of Branksome Green, Darlington, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Alan Youngson at a hearing at Teesside Crown Court today (Friday, December 20).

The 28-year-old appeared via video link from Durham Prison.

He was remanded in custody ahead of his trial next year, which is scheduled to start on April 7 and is expected to last about a week.

The body of Mr Youngson was found in a shallow grave on Monday, October 7 in woodland near Jedburgh Drive, in Darlington, close to the A1(M).

The woodland area was cordoned off for two weeks while dozens of officers worked at the scene, some examining forensic evidence, while others conducted house-to-house inquiries around the Branksome estate, near where the body was discovered.

Mr Youngson, who moved to the region from Hamilton, Scotland, had been missing from his Darlington home since August 15.

Mr Dodsworth was arrested on suspicion of his murder on October 11, along with four other Darlington men who have since been released with no further action.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Youngson had died from head injuries.