A British nurse in a neonatal ward has denied charges of murdering eight babies and trying to kill 10 more in the hospital where she worked.

Lucy Letby, 31, appeared for a brief hearing at Manchester Crown Court by video link from prison on Monday.

She answered “not guilty” to eight charges of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital, south of Liverpool in north-west England.

Police began investigating baby deaths at the hospital in 2017 and arrested and charged Ms Letby last year.

She was previously arrested twice, in 2018 and 2019, but was twice bailed pending further inquiries.

The identities of the surviving and deceased children, as well as their parents, are protected by a court order.

A judge remanded Ms Letby in custody and said a trial lasting up to six months will be held from October 2022.