TWO teenage girls sobbed as they appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman found dead at her home.

Angela Wrightson, 39, died as a result of blood loss and substantial injuries, a post-mortem examination revealed.

She was discovered at her terraced property in Stephen Street, Hartlepool, just after 9am on Tuesday.

The two girls, aged 13 and 14, appeared separately at Teesside Crown Court, in Middlesbrough, and were held at youth detention accommodation until their next hearing.

They had appeared at Teesside Youth Court in the morning and were told by District Judge Martin Walker that he had to send the case to the Crown Court because of its severity.

The younger suspect, wearing a black and white fluffy jumper, black leggings and red trainers, looked pale as she was led into the courtroom.

She nodded only to confirm her name.

Sue Jacobs, prosecuting, said that a number of conditions had been met and the girls should be sent to secure accommodation.

She added: “As she is young I do not propose to go in to any of the details of what happened. I do not think we need to explain it.”

The 14-year-old, who appeared second, used a tissue to mop away tears and looked at her father when taken out of the courtroom by an officer after her brief hearing.

She wore a grey hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms and black plimsolls. She also nodded when asked to confirm her name.

Neither girl was asked to enter a plea.

The defence for both girls agreed that they should be sent to secure accommodation.

John Ellwood, mitigating for the 13-year-old, added: “I have explained to her she will be going back to a similar place to where she was last night.”

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, asked the parents of the girls to stand after a remand for both had been agreed.

He told them: “We have done everything we can.

“There is no alternative order to make other than the one I have done.”

The legal representatives will meet next Thursday to discuss a timetable for the case.