A trial date has been set for a 46-year-old man accused of the attempted theft of a "priceless" 800-year-old version of the Magna Carta at Salisbury Cathedral.

Mark Royden, from Canterbury, Kent, is accused of using a hammer to smash the protective glass box surrounding the ancient manuscript on October 25 last year.

He is alleged to have been stopped by members of staff and a tourist before being arrested by police.

The defendant, who represented himself at Winchester Crown Court, is charged with stealing "an original version of the Magna Carta, the value of which is priceless, belonging to Salisbury Cathedral".

He also faces a second charge of criminal damage to the cabinet holding the Magna Carta worth £14,466.

Royden, wearing shorts and a long-sleeved top with the word "Eleven" on the front and the letter 'M' on the back with Union Jacks on the sleeves all in bright yellow, pleaded not guilty to the two charges.

Judge Susan Evans QC adjourned the case for trial to be held at Salisbury Crown Court on January 27 with a trial preparation hearing on October 7.

She told Royden: "You must attend Salisbury Crown Court on October 7 and on January 27.

"If you do not, that's a separate offence, it's called failure to attend court and you could find yourself getting a prison sentence for it."

Royden was released on bail with the condition not to enter Salisbury Cathedral or the nearby Cathedral Close.