A 23-year-old woman denied the manslaughter of her toddler son when she appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

Kelly Tugwell, of Gorse Avenue, Weedswood, Chatham, also denied cruelty to a person under the age of 16 between June 1 and August 2 last year.

Tugwell’s 19-month-old son Robert Williams died on August 1 last year. Her trial, due to last up to three weeks, is due to start on November 14. Conditional bail was continued.