A man has appeared in court for the second time charged with murder and attempted murder while one of the victims of the Pines Road attack remains in a coma.

Craig Bird, 31, of no fixed address, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today in front of Judge Charles Gratwicke QC.

He is charged with the murder of a 48-year-old woman and the attempted murder of a 59-year-old man.

The couple have been identified locally as Colleen and Victor Westlake, of Pines Road.

Bird was arrested on Sunday after officers were called to a house in Pines Road following reports a man had been assaulted in his home.

They found a woman had died and a man, who was seriously injured, was rushed to Broomfield Hospital where he remains in a coma.

Bird was once again remanded into custody and ordered to appear in the court on June 29. Judge Charles Gratwicke QC also set a provisional trial date of December 12.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call Essex Police on 101.