A WOMAN accused of stealing £26,000 worth of scratch cards from her employer has appeared in court.

Alyson Holmes is alleged to have stolen Camelot lottery scratch cards to the value of £26,034 while working at a shop in her home village of Trimdon Village, near Sedgefield, County Durham, between January and November 2013.

The 35-year-old, of Church Road, did not enter a plea to charges of theft and fraud when she appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe today (Thursday, March 5).

The case was committed to Durham Crown Court on Thursday, March 19.

Miss Holmes received unconditional bail.