A MAN has appeared in court charged with driving under the influence of drugs and speeding, in connection with a crash that killed a young mum-to-be.

Paul Cross, 20, of London Road, Westcliff, entered no plea at Southend Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He was charged with nine offences relating to the fatal crash in Manners Way, Southend, on October 7, last year.

Keely Hartnett, 21, of Somerset Avenue, Rochford, was eight months pregnant with her first child when she was killed instantly in the collision.

She was a passenger in a blue Ford Escort, which collided with a blue Peugeot 306 travelling the opposite direction.

Her boyfriend Phil Roberts, 20, from Rayleigh, who was driving the Escort, suffered a broken leg.

Cross is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, being unfit to drive through drugs, exceeding the 30mph speed limit, careless driving, failure to stop at an accident and failing to report an accident.

He is also charged with failing to give information about the identity of the driver to police, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

Family and friends of Miss Hartnett and Cross were in court for the ten-minute hearing.

The case was sent to Basildon Crown Court, where Cross will appear on July 4 for a plea and case management hearing.

He was released on bail with the conditions he lives and sleeps at his home in London Road, Westcliff, and does not drive any vehicle.