Douglas Brown, 60, and his wife Joan, 58, of The Green, Houghton, appeared before magistrates in Hartlepool.

Mr Brown is accused of siphoning money from the company where he worked into his personal bank account and also to his wife's florist shop.

He faces 30 counts of obtaining property by deception, and one charge of converting proceeds of crime.

The offences are alleged to have happened between November 1995 and last March when Mr Brown was employed by Palmer UK in Hartlepool.

Mrs Brown faces six charges of concealing the proceeds of crime in connection with her business, Elvet Flowers, in Durham.

Palmer UK's manufacturing site, in Brenda Road, Hartlepool, is owned by American-based firm Palmer International, which makes products derived from cashew nutshell liquid.

The couple appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court yesterday for their first hearing over the charges.

They spoke only to confirm their dates of birth and address during the appearance, and have not yet entered a plea.

District Judge Martin Walker sent the case to Teesside Crown Court on a date to be fixed because of the sums of money involved in the alleged offences.

He said: "I am directing that these matters should be heard at the crown court in view of the large values of the allegations."

The couple were granted bail, which includes a condition to notify police if they plan to leave the country.