A MAN has admitted killing his neighbour in an alleged hammer attack.

Paul Kee, 54, denied murdering Gordon Ackrell but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility when he appeared at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday.

Kee, of Ipswich Gardens, Whitleigh, was arrested after father-of-three Mr Ackrell was found with serious head injuries on September 5 last year.

The defendant initially appeared at Plymouth Magistrates' Court charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but 56-year-old Mr Ackrell died in hospital two weeks after the attack and the charge has since been changed to murder.

Yesterday, the court was told that the Crown Prosecution Service had received a report saying that Kee was fit to enter a plea.

The CPS will now produce its own report to decide whether to accept the manslaughter charge.

"I am hopeful that the report will be with us within a month," said prosecutor Anthony Donne.

He added that he needed that report before the CPS could say whether the plea was accepted.

Wearing dark trousers and a bright patterned shirt, bearded Kee spoke only when giving his plea.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC remanded the defendant in custody and listed the case for the first date in November when the defence, prosecution and doctors who compiled both reports would be available for a hearing.