A NORTH YORKSHIRE businesswoman has appeared in court accused of health and safety failings after the manager of a launderette died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Caroline Whalley, 58, was summonsed to court on Tuesday under the 2007 Construction Regulations following the death of Muhammad Javid Butt at Taniya Dry Cleaners in Wandsworth Road, Clapham, on October 5, 2013.

Whalley, of Maidensworth Farm, Rape Close Lane in Gilling East, near Ampleforth, is accused of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure construction work can be carried out without risk to health and safety.

She did not enter a plea to the charge.

Co-defendant Keith Morris, 65, did not appear at the Old Bailey to face charges of gross negligence manslaughter and failure to take reasonable care of an employee under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

He is of Ackland House, Beckenham. Both defendants are on conditional bail.

Construction firm 6699 Limited, whose representatives were in court, is accused of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure employees are not exposed to risk.

They are all due to appear in court for a plea and case management hearing on December 9. A trial date has not yet been set.

6699 Limited is registered to Ravenbury Avenue, in Morden, southwest London.