A TRIAL date has been set for three men accused of causing the death of a North Yorkshire grandfather.

James Ray, from Easingwold, was seriously injured in an attack in Ashton-under-Lyme, Manchester, on November 12 last year and died in hospital the next day, his 70th birthday.

Mr Ray, a former landlord of the Spotted Ox in Tockwith, near York, had driven a delivery van to the Plantation Industrial Estate where he suffered serious head injuries in an attack.

Greater Manchester Police said Martin Patrick Ward Jnr, 24, of Royd Street, Rochdale, Patrick John McDonagh, 20, of The Cray, Milnrow, and Patrick Cawley, 22, of Orchard Crescent, Chadderton, have been charged with manslaughter, aggravated vehicle taking and conspiracy to steal.

Three more men, Martin Patrick Ward Snr, 45, of Claybank Street, Heywood, Faisal Hussain, 22, of Ansdell Road, Rochdale, and Leslie John Simpson, 38, of Daventry Road, Rochdale, have been charged with conspiracy to steal.

All six appeared before Tameside Magistrates Court in May, and all except Simpson and Hussain were remanded in custody.

A trial date has now been set for November 7 at Manchester Crown Court.