A FORMER deputy manager accused of stealing more than £17,000 from a children's nursery has appeared in court.

Kelly Marley, 30, denies two theft charges from Little Stars Nursery, Grimsby.

She appeared before Grimsby magistrates yesterday to face an existing charge and a new one which was added by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Marley is accused of stealing £13,943 cash belonging to the nursery between June 25, 2009 and October 16, 2010 and stealing £3,930 also belonging to the nursery between July 14, 2009 and June 11, 2010.

The total sum alleged to have been stolen is £17,873.

The cases were committed to Grimsby Crown Court for trial and Marley was allowed conditional bail.

At an earlier hearing, it was decided that the matters were too serious to be dealt with by the magistrates' court.

Marley, of Nishe Mews, Wendover Rise, Cleethorpes, is due to appear before a judge for a plea and case management hearing on March 9.

She was represented by defence solicitor Rebecca Perrin, who confirmed that matters would be denied.

Marley no longer works at the nursery, which is in the grounds of the Grimsby Institute.