A MID Wales man has denied a charge of causing the death of a young Llanidloes army reservist by dangerous driving.

Defendant Rhys Davies, 27, of Parc Hafod, Tregynon, near Newtown, appeared in the dock at Mold Crown Court on Friday and denied causing the death of Matthew Bennett from Llanidloes, by driving dangerously on the A470 at Caersws on 8 October last year.

A second man, Joshua Taylor, 27, of Ty Gwyn Road in Caersws, pleaded not guilty to a charge of intending to pervert the course of justice by allegedly making a false statement about the crash to the police.

Judge Rhys Rowlands rebailed both pending a trial, which it is estimated will last five days, on 12 February next year.

Mr Bennett, a member of the Army Reserves in Aberystwyth, was airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital after suffering serious injuries in the road crash, but later died in hospital.