A man has denied murdering a 29-year-old who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run incident.

Ryan Griffiths died after he was “struck” by a car just before 9pm on August 21 which was driven away from the scene in Burleigh Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands Police previously said.

Aden Wright, 26, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody by Judge Michael Chambers KC before he faces trial on February 17 at the same court.

Wright, of Griffiths Drive in Wolverhampton, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea in the dock during the short hearing.

The judge told the court the trial is expected to last two weeks.

In a statement released by police days after Mr Griffiths’s death, his family paid tribute to him as a “loving and devoted son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew and cousin”.

They added: “Everyone is devastated by his sad loss and he will be sadly missed.”