A lorry driver has appeared in court accused of causing the crash that claimed the life of Kidlington milkman Tom Glancy.

Barry Archer, 42, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared in front of Judge Nigel Daly on Thursday morning (August 17).

Prosecutors say he was behind the wheel of a 2016-plate Mercedes Actros lorry on the A420 near Pusey on July 16, 2020, when he was involved in a collision with 64-year-old Mr Glancy’s Ford Transit van.

The trial, which will start on July 22 next year, is expected to last seven days. Archer, of Claygate, near Esher in Surry, was granted bail.

READ MORE: Tributes to milkman killed in A420 crash

Judge Daly told the defendant, who spoke only to confirm his name and his not guilty plea: “Your trial is not going to take place until next year, in fact almost a year. That is because the courts are terribly overcrowded as you probably appreciate.

“In the meantime, your bail is going to be extended.”

The judge gave Archer the usual warnings that if he failed to produce a legal statement setting out his defence it could be held against him at the trial, which might go ahead in his absence if he failed to attend.

Kaj Scarsbrook appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service during the short plea hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday morning. Tetevi Davi represented the defendant.

Following Mr Glancy’s death in 2020, his family paid a heartfelt tribute to the career milkman.

Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, he moved to Kidlington as a child when his father came to work at the Cowley Plant.

READ MORE: Inquest opened into milkman's A420 death

"He was married to Brenda for 41 years and was father to Gareth, Philip, Marissa and Josh as well as a grandfather to six,” Mr Glancy’s family said in a tribute.

"Tom became a milkman in August 1977 and served the area of Kidlington from 1978 until June 2015. He then became the milkman to all the villages off the A420. He was a key worker delivering milk and goods to them and received lots of gifts and thank you notes from his customers.”

They added: "Tom enjoyed talking to everyone and loved spending quality time with his family.

"He also loved working on his allotment and was looking forward to retiring, so that he could spend more time there.

“The grandchildren loved digging up the potatoes and picking the beans. He welcomed new allotment holders, gave them advice and loved talking to them."