A CARE assistant has appeared in court accused of pushing vulnerable patients and dragging them out of bed.

Pamela Wolfendale, aged 53, is charged with abusing eight residents at Bupa's Mill View Care Home in Bridgeman Street, Great Lever.

The crimes are said to have been committed between January 1, 2012, and November 24, 2013.

Nicola Ormerod, prosecuting at Bolton Magistrates Court, said: "There are eight matters involving different residents at a particular care home.

"The defendant is said to have been a care assistant.

"Over a period of time the defendant is said to have assaulted a number of residents by pushing and dragging out of bed."

The allegations relate to residents in the care home who are said to lack mental capacity.

Wolfendale, of St Helens Road, Daubhill, spoke only to confirm her name and address, and entered no pleas to the eight counts of wilfully neglecting a person without capacity.

She was granted bail with conditions including not to contact the relatives of the alleged victims and not to go within 100 yards of the care home.

Wolfendale will appear at Bolton Crown Court on August 29