A man accused of murdering a grandmother from Tunbridge Wells was due to appear in court this morning but did not attend.

Keith Solly, of Lady's Gift Road, was arrested after 58-year-old local woman Yvonne Tapp was discovered dead at his flat on the afternoon of Friday, December 5.

The 62-year-old was charged with murder and was due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court for a preliminary hearing this morning but did not attend due to mental health issues.

Solly was originally scheduled to appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Monday, but was deemed unfit to appear.

Prosecuting Philippa McAtasney QC said Solly was in a relationship with Miss Tapp. She added: "Although we don't definitively know the cause of death, it is possibly asphyxia. We are not expecting the post mortem report or results of forensic testing for eight weeks."

Solly remains in custody and is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on March, 19 for a case management and plea hearing.

In a statement released after her death Yvonne's family said: "Yvonne was a kind, loving person, who was deeply loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed.

"All close family members wish to grieve in private."

A provisional trial date has been set for June, 1 2015.