A prominent Cumbrian lawyer who specialised in clinical negligence and catastrophic injury has denied two allegations of fraud.

Marcus Nickson pleaded not guilty to two charges that he falsified documents relating to the legal costs of two of his clients, and that some of those costs were paid out of their damages.

The 65-year-old of Blencogo, Wigton, appeared before magistrates at Lancaster Magistrates' Court today.

Nickson is accused of two charges of false accounting which state he falsified letters, file notes, legal aid forms, court documents, conditional fee documents, cost schedules and invoices relating to the legal costs of two separate clients' negligence claims by providing information which "was or may be misleading, false or deceptive".

Prosecuting, Eddie Harrison said the allegations were "well beyond" the magistrates' court and the case should instead be sent to crown court.

Nickson said: "I entirely agree with the prosecution."

He was a former partner and then director at KJ Commons & Co, which had offices in Carlisle and Workington before it closed in 2014.

Nickson is due to appear at Preston Crown Court on February 9. Magistrates granted him unconditional bail.