An East Sussex man has been charged in connection with the death of a pedestrian in a road accident.

Michael Uren, 24, of Pages Close, Heathfield, is accused of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Kenneth Shepperd, 69, was hit by a white hatchback car in Elm Grove, Brighton, at 11.44pm on Saturday.

Mr Shepperd, of De Montfort Road, Brighton, was found with extensive head and chest injuries and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he died.

Uren, a student at the University of Sussex, is to appear before Brighton magistrates on Friday.

Mr Shepperd ran a pub in Eastbourne before moving to Brighton and buying his home in De Montfort Road.

An electrician by trade, he ran his own businesses and worked for many years for the BBC. He was in charge of lighting for several programmes, including the hit comedy series Hi De Hi.

He was still working at the time of his death, refurbishing a shop in Seaside, Eastbourne, prior to sale.

His closest friend, John Danyell, 40, of Ashton Rise, Brighton, said: "Ken could be cantankerous but he had a heart of gold."

Mr Danyell said the victim was well known on the gay scene in Brighton.

He said: "He loved food and wine and was a great character. He had a nickname, Candyfloss, because of his hair. He will be sadly missed by us all."

Miguel De Los Rios, 23, Mr Shepperd's lodger, said: "He was quiet and didn't talk a lot about himself but he was active and went out most days."

Neighbour Dorothy Godfrey said: "He must have lived around here for about 15 to 20 years. He always talked to me and asked how I was. He was very quiet and never did anybody any harm."