THE trial of two nursery workers accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards children in their care has experienced another delay.

Nicola Jeffrey, who is 33, and 34-year-old Teresa Renton are alleged to have committed the offence on various occasions between January 1, 2015, and August 1, 2016.

It is said to have happened at Little Reivers Nursery in Duns, which has since closed.

They have both pleaded not guilty to a charge of shouting, forcibly dragging children about and lifting them off the floor by the arm.

The charge also includes locking children inside cupboards and refusing to let them out when they became disorientated.

It is alleged both women also mad offensive and abusive comments towards and about young children and behaved in an aggressive, threatening and abusive manner towards young children in their care.

Jeffrey is further alleged to have seized hold of the arm of an injured child who was receiving treatment from a colleague and it was later ascertained the arm had sustained two fractures.

She is also said to changed the nappy of a child in a public place in view of the public on a concrete floor without using any mat.

Renton of Ainslie Terrace and Jeffrey of Rachel Drive pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The trial was scheduled to get underway on January 15 but at an intermediate hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court it emerged there had been a change of defence lawyers and they would not be ready in time for that date.

A new date for the start of the trial - which is expected to last four days - has been fixed for April 29.