Two women accused of punching and kicking an elderly woman in their care have appeared in court.

Rosemary Mufumei and Temilola Famakinwa are denied their charge of ill-treating an 89-year-old woman on August 19 last year.

The pair were care workers tasked with looking after the pensioner when the incident is said to have happened.

Mufumei, 56, of Wallis Park, Northfleet and Famakinwa, 53, of St George's Crescent, Gravesend, both denied an allegation of ill-treating or willfully neglecting Rita McDerment when they appeared in the dock at Medway Magistrates Court on July 30.

Debbie Jones, prosecuting, told the court Mrs McDerment had long-standing mobility issues and was said to have suffered bruising and an open wound as a result of the alleged incident.

Magistrates also heard the case should be dealt with in the crown court as the allegations were so serious, which they agreed to do.

Mufumei and Famakinwa were granted conditional bail until their next hearing which will be a preliminary hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on August 27.