A BANK worker due to appear in court today (Friday, July 24) to face charges of stealing more than £250,000 from elderly customers' accounts is now scheduled to appear before magistrates in a fortnight.

Northallerton Magistrates' Court heard that Lesley Austin, 47, from Newton Aycliffe, was unable to attend Friday's hearing and would instead appear before the court on August 7.

Mrs Austin has been charged with 15 offences against five victims who were all customers at NatWest in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The offences are said to have occurred over a seven-year period between November 2007 and August last year.