A WOMAN has appeared in court accused of stealing more than £176,000 from a Wirral primary school where she worked.

Diane McKinlay, of Monastery Road in Holywell, North Wales, faced four offences of fraud by false representation when she appeared before Wirral magistrates on Thursday.

It is alleged the 50-year-old stole money from Avalon School in West Kirby totalling £176,989 between March 2011 and July 2014

McKinlay did not enter a plea and will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on September 24.

She was released on unconditional bail.