A HUNGER striker accused of murdering his girlfriend has taken his first food in 49 days.

John Collings, 47, was on hunger strike in protest at being charged with killing Victoria Barker, in August 2000.

A prison spokesman said an inmate, who The Northern Echo understands is Mr Collings, ate his first food in the hospital wing of Holme House Prison, Stockton, last Sunday.

He began his hunger strike on March 17.

Mr Collings has pleaded not guilty to murder and will be tried at Newcastle Crown Court later this year.

He is accused of murdering his girlfriend Victoria Barker, 30.

The university graduate died following a fire at the home she shared with Mr Collings, in South Stanley, County Durham.

A post-mortem examination established that Ms Barker died from smoke inhalation, but the cause of the fire at the ground-floor flat, in Coquet Gardens, has been the subject of extensive examination.

Mr Collings, was living at Hexham when he was arrested last December. He is being monitored by the prison's health care unit.

A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said last night that they could not comment on individual prisoners.