Karen Matthews, 32, a mother of seven, was previously awaiting trial charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect but yesterday the additional charges were put to her at Leeds Crown Court.

Standing with Michael Donovan, 39, who was already charged with nine-year-old Shannon's kidnap and false imprisonment, she answered firmly not guilty to three charges read to them both by the clerk.

The charge alleged: "On the 19th day of February, 2008, you unlawfully and by force or fraud took, or carried away Shannon Matthews against her will."

The false imprisonment offence states: "Between the 18th day of February 2008 and the 15th day of March, 2008, you unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned and detained Shannon Matthews against her will."

The third charge, facing Donovan for the first time, alleged the pair "between the 18th day of February 2008 and the 15th day of March 2008 with intent to pervert the course of public justice did a series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of justice in that you reported to West Yorkshire Police that Shannon Matthews was a missing person when you knew where she was and were keeping her from being found."

Donovan, 39, also denied the three charges, but in a voice that could barely be heard.

No plea was entered on the charge of child neglect.

Matthews sat with her arms folded staring straight ahead.

Neither defendant, separated by an empty chair in the secure dock in Courtroom Five, looked at the other during the 45-minute hearing.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier, QC, also indicated to Donovan's counsel, Ahmed Nadim that there would be some "give" when it came to funding expert reports for the defence, rather than risk the high cost of postponing the trial.

The two defendants were both remanded in custody to October 24. The trial is fixed to begin on November 11 and is expected to last three weeks.

Shannon, a Westmoor Junior School pupil, disappeared on February 19 after going on a swimming trip.

Police mounted a massive investigation involving hundreds of officers and a team of 60 detectives to try to find her.

Donovan, a former computer worker, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14 after the schoolgirl was found less than a mile from her Dewsbury Moor home.

Formerly known as Paul Drake, he is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, Craig Meehan, 22, who faces trial on Monday at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court accused of possessing more than 100 indecent images of children on a computer at the home he then shared with Shannon's mother in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor.

He is also charged with possessing an indecent image of a young girl on a mobile phone.