A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of Hawkhurst delivery driver Ian Jones, who was run over by his own vehicle as he tried to stop it being hi-jacked.

Mr Jones, 44, of Park Cottages, Queen's Road, was killed last after he pulled into the service yard of the Currys store in Chingford, Essex, where he was due to deliver electrical goods.

Mr Jones, who had gone into the depot to report, heard his 18-ton vehicle being started up and rushed out as it was driven away. He was run over and left dying as the thief made his getaway.

John Clarke, 22, of Melbourne Road, East Ham, is charged with the theft of a box van used as a getaway vehicle, with the theft of Mr Jones' lorry, with the theft of its contents and with the murder of Mr Jones.

Clarke will return to the Old Bailey on March 9 to make his plea. He was remanded in custody by Judge Brian Barker.

Mr Jones, a bachelor, had been a volunteer retained fire-fighter for 21 years and had lived in Hawkhurst his whole life.