Two women have appeared in court charged in relation to a dog attack that killed a nine-year-old boy.

Frankie Macritchie, from Plymouth, died while on holiday at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall, in April last year.

Police were called to a caravan at the site just before 5am after Frankie was attacked by a dog, and the schoolboy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tawney Willis, 31, appeared at Bodmin Magistrates' Court on Thursday along with 29-year-old Sadie Totterdell after Frankie Macritchie died in Cornwall last April

Totterdell (pictured covering her face) is charged with being the owner of an American bulldog/Staffordshire cross that was dangerously out of control

Frankie (pictured), from Plymouth, died while on holiday at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall, in April last year

Frankie's mother Tawney Willis, 31, appeared at Bodmin Magistrates' Court on Thursday along with 29-year-old Sadie Totterdell.

Willis is charged with neglecting Frankie in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health, contrary to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Totterdell is charged with being the owner of an American bulldog/Staffordshire cross that was dangerously out of control and injured Frankie, who died as a result of the injuries, contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Nail technician Sadie Totterdell, 28, is pictured with a similar dog to the one that attacked Frankie

Frankie, nine, is pictured with his mother Willis in a photo taken just hours before his death. The defendants, both from Plymouth, did not enter a plea to the charges against them

In a statement issued through Devon and Cornwall Police after Frankie's (pictured) death, his family described him as a 'very happy cheeky boy'

The defendants, both from Plymouth, did not enter a plea to the charges against them.

David Kirby-Welch, chair of the bench, told them: 'This matter is now being sent to Truro Crown Court on April 14. You are on unconditional bail.'

No details of the incident were heard in court.

In a statement issued through Devon and Cornwall Police after Frankie's death, his family described him as a 'very happy cheeky boy'.

'Our wonderful little Frankie will be so very missed by all of his family with every breath that we take,' they said.