A major hunt has been launched to track down a man who failed to turn up at court to face drugs charges.

Police are trying to find Martin Taylor, 46, who has gone missing from his home.

He and football club chairman Barry Noonan were due to stand trial at Brighton Crown Court.

Noonan, 56, of Trafalgar Road, Portslade, runs Sussex County League side Southwick FC.

They are both charged with conspiracy to supply a kilo of cocaine with a street value of £50,000.

Both men deny the allegation and a four week trial was due to start on Tuesday.

Noonan was at court on time but Taylor failed to arrive and attempts to contact him failed.

The hearing was postponed while police tried to discover where he is.

The court heard yesterday (wed) that he could not be found at his home in Orange Hill Road, Edgeware, Middlesex, and a police hunt has now started for him.

David Scutt, prosecuting, said: "Officers went to his home yesterday.

"They spoke to his partner who said he had left for court in the early hours of the morning.

"It would now appear that he is avoiding coming to court as it is not possible that it would take so long for him to get here from Edgeware.

"There are currently some serious police resources being applied to find Mr Taylor."

The court heard that neither prosecution or defence wanted the case to go ahead in Taylor's absence.

Judge Charles Kemp adjourned the case until April 27 to allow police time to find Taylor.

Noonan was given unconditional bail until then.

He has told The Argus he is innocent and will fight the case "tooth and nail".

At an earlier hearing he said: "This has nothing to do with me. I will fight the case and win."