A TRIAL date has been set next year for a nurse accused of the murder of eight babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit.

Lucy Letby, 31, is due to go on trial on July 4, 2022, after Mr Justice Ian Dove set the date at a case management hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

It followed a hearing the previous day which had to be cut short due to technical difficulties, with sound feedback meaning most of those in attendance on the videolink, including Letby, could not hear proceedings.

The estimated length of the trial, to be held at Manchester Crown Court, is six months.

Letby appeared by videolink from HMP Peterborough and spoke only to confirm she could hear proceedings from Liverpool during the hearing.

Police detectives and the families of the babies involved also watched proceedings via videolink from Chester Crown Court.

Letby is alleged to have murdered five baby boys and three baby girls while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

She is also accused of the attempted murder of five baby boys and five baby girls, all between June 2015 and June 2016.

Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, was arrested in 2018 and 2019 as part of the police investigation at the hospital, which began in 2017.

She has yet to enter a plea to the charges.

The hearing on Tuesday dealt with further administrative and case management matters ahead of the trial.

A further pre-trial hearing will be held in October.

The defendant remains in custody.