A man pleaded guilty to killing his grandmother when he appeared in court. But he denied her murder.

Maxwell Twyman was accused of murdering 62-year-old Valerie Twyman at her home in Conyngham Close, Ramsgate, on Christmas Day last year.

But when the charge was put to him at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, he replied: "I plead not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter."

Alan Kent, prosecuting, said the plea, on the basis of diminished responsibility, was accepted by the Crown.

Sentence was adjourned until next month to allow an assessment by psychiatrists at top security Broadmoor mental hospital in Berkshire.

Twyman, 25, also of Conyngham Close, stabbed his grandmother several times. She was found dead at her home.

Mr Kent said two doctors had concluded that Twyman was suffering from either schizophrenia or a "persistent delusional disorder" when his responsibility was substantially impaired.

Judge Michael Lawson, QC, said he would wait for medical assessments to be made before passing sentence. A date will be set at a further hearing on July 11.

Oliver Saxby, defending, said a meeting was to be held at Broadmoor on Thursday.