A SOMERSET couple whose two young children were allegedly found with cocaine in their systems and traces of other drugs on their bodies have appeared in court facing charges of child neglect.

When the children were placed into foster care they were also found to be severely underweight and were suffering from speech and language and development delays which were allegedly attributed to their home environment.

The 29-year-old woman and 37-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the dock side by side before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

They were both charged that between February 1, 2015 and March 3, 2016 at their home address in Ilminster they wilfully assaulted, ill treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed the two children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said that when the two children were taken into care one of them weighed less than he did the previous year.

Analysis of their hair revealed traces of amphetamine, cocaine, diazepam and cannabis and both children tested positive for cocaine ingestion.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the offences and the case was so serious that the magistrates said they should be sent to Taunton Crown Court to stand trial.

All matters were adjourned to July 10 when they were ordered to appear before a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

Until then they were both released on unconditional bail.