The parents of former au pair Louise Woodward have appeared in court charged with defrauding their daughter's appeal fund.

Susan Woodward of Elton, Cheshire, and Gary Woodward, of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, have entered not guilty pleas to providing a false invoice for $15,400 for accommodation expenses claimed by Mrs Woodward at the home of her daughter's former US lawyer, Elaine Whitfield Sharp.

They also deny producing a false invoice with the aim of persuading the fund trustees to give them £9,113.50.

At a hearing last November, they also pleaded not guilty to providing false information.

Mr and Mrs Woodward, both 43, were committed for crown court trial by magistrates in Chester.

They were further remanded on unconditional bail until a plea hearing to be held at the court on 14 February.

Louise Woodward, then 19, was convicted of the second degree murder, later reduced to manslaughter, of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen in November 1997.

The former au pair, who is now studying law at a London university, has defended her parents, who are now separated.

She said they would never have stolen from the fund of several hundred thousand pounds raised for her defence.