Blood stains discovered in the engine room of a boat matched the DNA of a missing pensioner, a jury heard.

Robert Saint, 70, of Horsham Road, Steyning, went missing in September last year after meeting train guard David MacBride, 44, who wanted to buy the 42ft motor cruiser, The Sundowner.

The body of the wealthy retired businessman was found washed up on the beach at Sandown, on the Isle of Wight, two weeks later.

MacBride, of Bramber Close, Bognor, has denied murdering Mr Saint.

The prosecution accuse MacBride, a former merchant seaman, of becoming obsessed with owning the boat, which was moored at Birdham Pool harbour. He is alleged to have lied about paying for the vessel with £119,000 in cash he found on a train while working.

Forensic scientist Claire Austin told the jury at Lewes Crown Court she examined a blood-stained white shirt found in a box inside a bag under a table in the galley of The Sundowner two days after Mr Saint was reported missing by his family.

She said the blood on the shirt matched Mr Saint's DNA and there was a one in a billion chance it belonged to someone else.

Another profile was taken from cells around the neck of the collar of the shirt and this matched MacBride's DNA.

Ms Austin said that again it was a one in a billion chance the DNA belonged to someone else.

There appeared to have been attempts to wash away a blood stain on the galley carpet. Tests proved it was Mr Saint's blood.

There were also matches with blood and hair found on pipework in the engine room.

The trial continues.