A doctor has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of a popular primary school teacher after an emergency caesarean.

Consultant anaesthetist Errol Cornish, 67, along with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, is charged in connection with the death of Frances Cappuccini, who taught at Offham Primary School.

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

Cornish, of Holmbury Park in Bromley, south east London, was charged alongside Dr Nadeem Azeez, 52, formerly of Chestnut Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, who is thought to have fled to Pakistan.

An international warrant has been issued for the arrest of Dr Azeez.

Today Cornish appeared before Mr Justice Coulson QC at the Rolls Building court in Fetter Lane, along with representatives of the trust to enter pleas in the case.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, also pleaded not guilty to corporate manslaughter.

This marks the first time an NHS trust has been charged with the offence since its introduction in 2008.

A trial has been set to start on January 12 2016.

Watch: Today's news on KMTV