A man accused of murdering his estranged wife has been remanded in custody after appearing in court today.

Lee Birch, 55, was in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court for a preliminary hearing this morning.

The body of Anne Birch, 47, was discovered at a house in Whiteness Road, Kingsgate, at about 1.30pm on Thursday.

Birch, of Lymington Road, Westgate, spoke only to be identified at the brief hearing.

Judge Jeremy Carey transferred the case to Canterbury Crown Court, for a plea and case management hearing on January 28.

A provisional trial date was set for March 24 at the same court.

A bail application was not made, but Judge Carey said he had to consider if one should be granted.

He decided it should not and Birch was remanded in custody.

The couple, who have a teenage daughter, ran the Why Not? micropub in Lymington Road, Westgate, for nine months until it closed in September for financial reasons.

It is understood new tenants were due to take over but they are no longer able to trade as Mrs Birch was the licence holder.

A Kent Police spokesman said the force has referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission "as is mandatory in cases where there has been previous police contact with the victim".