A woman has been accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a lurcher dog.

Marie Staniforth, 31, of Rutland Avenue, Whitehaven, had been due to attend a hearing at Workington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

She didn't appear and the case has now been adjourned until June 14.

The charge states that Ms Staniforth "failed to act, namely by unreasonably failing to adequately investigate and treat the cause of its poor body condition."

The two-year-old dog, called Spot by the RSPCA, was found on the Leconfield Industrial Estate in Cleator Moor in February.

An investigation was launched by the RSPCA to trace Spot's owners after his discovery.

No plea has been indicated by the defendant.