A MAN has denied murder and is set to go on trial later this year.

Mateusz Madej, aged 24, of no fixed abode, who is of Polish nationality, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday.

He pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sebastian Zuchlinksi, who died from stab wounds inflicted during an attack in Davenport Street, off Topp Way, on February 6 2016.

Madej will now go on trial at Bolton Crown Court on July 23.

The trial is expected to last between five and 10 days.

Madej wore a black polo shirt and black jeans for yesterday’s court appearance and only spoke to plead not guilty to the offence.

He was remanded in custody until the trial date.

Mr Zuchlinski, aged 39, was an amateur cage fighters and tributes were paid to him in the aftermath of his death.

His girlfriend Anna described him as a "good guy with a big heart who would help anybody if he could".

Floral tributes were left at the scene of the stabbing for Mr Zuchlinksi who had an ex-wife and three children in his native Poland.

His mother said his "jokes and his smile will be greatly missed" and she was honoured to have had him as a son and that he was "clever, sensitive and full of passion and generosity".

Tomasz Bubrowski, aged 39, was convicted of the murder of Mr Zuchlinski in March 2017, and sentenced to life imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court, with at least 30 years and 278 days before he was eligible to apply for parole.