A man accused of double murder has denied killing a woman who has still not been found.

Mark Brown, 40, entered a not guilty plea at Lewes Crown Court to the murder of Leah Ware, who has not been seen since May 2021.

He is also accused of murdering Alexandra Morgan, who disappeared on Remembrance Sunday, November last year.

Both women disappeared in the Hastings area.

Mark Brown, of Squirrel Close, St Leonards, accepts a “body of criminality,” in the death of Alexandra Morgan, his defence barrister Ian Henderson QC said.

At an earlier hearing, Lewes Crown Court heard Mr Brown will say Ms Morgan died in an accident and he would admit to trying to dispose of her body by fire.

Concerns were raised for Leah Ware, 33, from Hastings after she had not been in contact with friends or family for some months.

Mother-of-two Alexandra, 34, from Sissinghurst in Kent was last seen at a petrol station in Cranbrook.

Mark Brown is charged with murdering Leah on or around May 7, 2021.

He is also charged with the murder of Alexandra Morgan on November 14, 2021.

He will be tried in October.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Senior Investigating Officers DCI Neil Kimber, of Kent Police, and DCI Andy Wolstenholme, from Sussex Police, said in a joint statement: "Our thoughts are with the families of both Alexandra and Leah at this difficult time.

"Whilst we have located the remains of Alexandra we have yet to find Leah and our investigations remain ongoing.

"‘We understand the impact that this may have in our communities.

"We are appealing for anyone with information regarding either Leah or Alexandra to contact us urgently."

A spokesman for Sussex Police added: "We have reviewed all police information that relates to missing people in Sussex and Kent and at this time, there is no information to suggest that any other missing person is linked to this investigation.

"We will continue to keep this under review."

READ MORE: Worthing couple sentenced over child cruelty after excrement found on walls