THE trial of a man accused of murdering a pensioner found in the cellar of a house is due to start today.

Dorothy Carre, 64, had been missing since losing contact with her family in March 1999, when she moved from Bacup to Rochdale.

Her remains were found by police when they lifted paving slabs from the cellar floor of an address in Equitable Street, Rochdale, in March this year.

A post mortem examination showed she had been stabbed to death.

Frederick Lawlor is charged with her murder between March 11, 1999 and May 1, 1999.

His trial was due to start yesterday but was put back a day after the judge was taken ill.