Nathan Mann, 19, was remanded in custody at Leicester Magistrates' Court accused of killing both Rashmi Badiani, 56, and Radhaben Chauhan, 72.

Mann, of Avonside Drive, Crown Hills, Leicester, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the four-minute hearing.

There was no application for bail on his behalf and he was ordered to reappear before magistrates on Monday.

The defendant, who appeared in the dock dressed in a grey sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms, is formally accused of murdering Mrs Badiani and Mrs Chauhan on November 6.

The women were discovered in the room they shared at the Hayes Park Nursing Home in Cropthorne Avenue, Leicester, shortly before 4am on Wednesday.

Mrs Badiani had been a resident at the home, on the eastern outskirts of Leicester, since December 2004, and Mrs Chauhan had lived there since August.

Leicestershire Police said on Thursday that Mrs Badiani had suffered serious head injuries, but they were still awaiting post-mortem test results to determine exactly how both women died.