A 29-year-old man has appeared before Burnley magistrates charged with two house burglaries in the town.

Samuel Horsfall, of Lawn Street, Burnley, is charged with burgling a house in Highfield Avenue, Burnley, overnight on November 24, when it is alleged two laptops, mobile phones and a digital camera belonging to the Micklethwaite family were among the £1,685 haul.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, told the hearing one of the children of the family, Sophie, 10, had recently had a bone marrow transplant.

One of the laptops contained sentimental photos and another would be used by her when she went into hospital.

Sophie suffers from a rare blood deficiency, called Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, which meant she needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

The defendant is also accused of breaking into a house in Colne Road, on December 4, where it is alleged he stole £100 cash, a satnav system, a shaver and vehicle documentation worth £900.

Horsfall did not enter pleas to the allegations. The bench decided the case should be heard at the crown court and the defendant was remanded in custody to the video link court at Hyndburn today.

He will face committal proceedings to the crown court on January 21.