A JUDGE warned that solicitors representing a mother and daughter may have to pay the costs of an aborted appeal at Worcester Crown Court.

Janice Hobby-Ford, 45, and her 18-year-old daughter Louise, both of The Cross, Wyre Piddle, were convicted by Worcester magistrates of assaulting a bus passenger.

Their appeal against the convictions was due to be heard by Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins.

But he decided to adjourn it until October 31 after defence barrister Bruce Tattersall made submissions to postpone the hearing.

Mr Tattersall said he wanted the bus driver to give evidence but he had not been asked to come to court.

He also wanted the question of separate representation for each defendant looked into in case there was a conflict of interest.

Both had been separately represented at the magistrates' court.

The judge called the situation "unsatisfactory" and said both topics should have been sorted out by the defendants' solicitors before the appeal date.

He said the solicitors should pay the "wasted costs" but could present arguments to the court at the appeal as to why they were not liable.