A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend by slitting her throat has appeared at the Old Bailey.

Clifford Mills, 48, is said to have killed Croydon grandmother Lorna Smith in his Brixton Hill flat after she came round to visit on the afternooon of February 2.

Miss Smith, who lived in Hewitt Close, Shirley, was found dead by police early the next morning in the sitting room of the flat in Morrish Road.

She had suffered knife wounds to her neck and back and a plastic bag had been placed over her head.

Her left wrist had also been shattered, and a pickaxe handle was found on the floor next to her body.

Mills, who has a history of mental illness, was arrested after attending St Thomas' Hospital, Southwark at 5am on February 3.

A pair of knives were later recovered from a bag in the basement of a house near the Darmouth Castle pub in Hammersmith, west London.

Mr Mills appeared by video link for a short bail hearing, and spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood proceedings.

No bail application was made and he will next appear in court on May 17.