A man has today pleaded not guilty to the murder of a “dedicated father and grandfather” whose body was discovered in woodland.

Stephen Castle, 59, denied the charge in relation to the killing of 54-year-old Wayne Woodgate during a brief hearing at Maidstone Crown Court this morning.

The body of Mr Woodgate, who was described in tributes as “a face of Tunbridge Wells that everyone knew and everyone will miss”, was found covered in a plastic sheet and leaves in a rural area of Peasmarsh, East Sussex, on October 23.

Police had launched an appeal as to his whereabouts, having disappeared six days earlier after last being reportedly seen getting into a van in the Goods Station Road area of Tunbridge Wells.

CCTV footage was also released of him in the Opera House Wetherspoon pub.

Castle, of Hastings Road, Matfield, was arrested and charged with his murder, which is alleged to have occurred on October 17.

Cause of death was later given at the inquest opening in November as compression of Mr Woodgate’s neck.

Appearing in the court dock this morning, Castle spoke simply to confirm his name and to enter his not guilty plea in front of Judge Philip St.John-Stevens.

His trial is due to start on April 22 and is estimated to last two weeks.

Castle nodded as the judge remanded him back into custody at the end of proceedings, which were attended by several of Mr Woodgate’s relatives.

At the time of the public appeal to find the grandfather, police also asked for dashcam footage from motorists who had travelled on the A268 between Peasmarsh and Four Oaks between 5.15pm and 5.45pm on Thursday, October 17, and between 8.15am and 8.45am on Sunday, October 20.

There was also a request for CCTV and doorbell camera images.

At the time of his death, Mr Woodgate’s son, George, paid tribute, describing his father as “a dedicated family man who brought joy and warmth to everyone he met”.

A GoFundMe appeal was also set up to help cover the costs of his funeral, which is due to be held on January 16, and give him a “Wayne-style send-off”. More than £3,500 has been raised to date.

George said the family felt “utterly robbed” by his death.

“He was taken from us much before his time. There was still so much left for him to do and be a part of, experience and achieve,” he added.

“We are devastated by this tragic loss and cannot begin to express the depth of our sorrow.”

Mr Woodgate’s eldest son, Glenn Goldsmith, said: “He was a face of Tunbridge Wells that everyone knew and everyone will miss.”

A full inquest into Mr Woodgate’s death is expected to be held in March.