Four people from North Cumbria have appeared before a court accused of conspiring to commit a £17,000 insurance fraud which involved a plan to torch a BMW car.

The four accused - who all appeared at Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates Court - are Lucy Jane Dixon, 38, of Skirwith, Penrith; James Dixon, 43, also of Skirwith; David Dixon, 46, of Maidenhill, Penrith; and Kenneth Steven Loughran, 46, of Arnside Road, Carlisle.

All are charged with conspiring to commit fraud by false representation - namely by making an insurance claim for a blue BMW, claiming falsely that it had been stolen.

They are all also further charged with conspiring to commit arson by setting fire to the same BMW car.

Lucy Dixon is additionally accused of an act intended to pervert the course of justice by falsely reporting to the police that the BMW had been stolen.

All the alleges offences are said to have been committed on dates in June, 2016.

None of the defendants - all of them legally represented - were asked to enter pleas.

District Judge Gerald Chalk said the nature of the case meant that it had to be sent to Carlisle Crown Court. They will appear there on May 8.

All were granted bail.