A car was driven away and "burned to a crisp" as a married couple attempted an audacious insurance scam.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how a BMW theft was faked during a bogus bid to recoup almost £20,000 from insurers.

Husband and wife James and Lucy Dixon, of Skirwith, near Penrith, admit conspiracy to commit fraud.

However, James Dixon's brother, David Dixon, of Newbiggin, Stainton, near Penrith, and another 46-year-old Carlisle man, Kenneth Loughran, of Arnside Road, deny the same charge.

Opening the case to jurors, prosecutor Brendan Burke said James and Lucy Dixon got "fed up" of their BMW and put it up for sale, but none of the offers were enough for them.

"They decided the best way to recover the most (money) they could from their insurers would be to fake the theft and complete destruction," said Mr Burke.

"You will hear the car was burned to a crisp."

This, the court heard, happened after James and Lucy Dixon visited a Penrith pub in June, 2016. They left their BMW - later valued at £18,700 - in the car park, and were taken home by 9.30pm, where they stayed.

Mr Burke alleged David Dixon and Loughran "came into possession" of a spare key for the car. This was driven from the Cross Keys pub, and burned out at remote High Stand Plantation, between Armathwaite and Cotehill, near Carlisle.

But Mr Burke said James Dixon, 43, and 39-year-old Lucy made "fatal mistakes" as the plot began to go wrong quickly.

A spare key computer reading showed the ignition was switched off at 10.37pm. A "distress signal" was sent from the car and police were alerted.

While there was no CCTV and no forensic evidence implicating David Dixon and Loughran, phone data showed their devices were in mast areas covering the theft and burn-out sites.

When interviewed, neither Dixon and Loughran disagreed with these movements. Both, however, claimed they had visited High Plant for "dogging" - where people partake in or watch others have sex in public.

They insisted it was coincidence the BMW was destroyed there.

Police agreed the site was "used for dogging", but Mr Burke alleged: "These two were involved in the part of the plan that involved the removal and complete destruction of the BMW."

The trial continues.