The trial has started of a doctor who has denied manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of a popular primary school teacher during childbirth.

Consultant anaesthetist Errol Cornish, 67, of Holmbury Park, Bromley, is charged in connection with the death of Frances Cappuccini, who taught at Offham Primary School.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is accused of corporate manslaughter and pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing.

It is the first time an NHS Trust has been charged with the offence since its introduction in 2007.

Mrs Cappuccini died hours after giving birth to her second son, Giacomo, by emergency caesarean section at Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury in October 2012.

She suffered a cardiac arrest and major blood loss.

The 30-year-old, from West Malling, taught Year One pupils at the school, in Church Road, Offham, for nine years before her death.

She left behind her husband Tom and their two sons Giacomo and Luca.

Appearing frail and walking using a stick, South African-born Cornish, in a suit and navy and pink striped tie, spoke only to confirm his name at Inner London Crown Court.

Both Cornish, an anaesthetist from Bromley, and representatives for the Trust appeared at Inner London Crown Court as lawyers prepared for the trial's opening tomorrow.

Cornish was given permission to sit next to his lawyers rather than in the dock and Frances Cappucini's family will be allowed to sit inside the court rather than the public gallery.

The Trust is accused of failing to ensure that the anaesthetists involved in Mrs Cappucini's care had the right qualifications and training and that there was the right level of supervision for her anaesthetic treatment.

A jury has been selected and the trial is due to open tomorrow at 10.30am.