A maintenance engineer has admitted killing a pub customer by hitting him across the head with a piece of wood, but denies murdering him.

Danny Board, 27, of Newham Way, Kenton, admitted the manslaughter of 38-year-old Simon Kenworthy and of assaulting Stephen Rutherford, 44.

But he denied murdering Mr Kenworthy who died 10 days after the incident outside a central London pub in September last year.

An Old Bailey jury was told that Board ñhad wordsî with the two men outside the pub before going to the club where he worked to collect the wood which he then used to hit the victims over the head.

Witness Stephen Smith was drinking at the pub when he saw Board holding the wood in both hands over his shoulder and someone shouting ñno Danny, put it down, stop it Dannyî.

ñThere was an appalling crack, followed by glass breaking, another crack and a splinter of wood falling to the ground,î said Mr Smith.

The trial continues.