Almost a dozen men - including a father and two sons - have appeared in court as part of a police probe into alleged attacks on cash machines in five Cumbrian towns.

The men, who have addresses across the north and west of the county and further afield, each face one charge.

This alleges conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal between September 1 of 2017 and September 30 last year.

The charge faced jointly by the men arises out of a Cumbria police investigation into alleged attacks on ATMs in Brampton, Cockermouth, Maryport, Silloth and Whitehaven.

At Carlisle Crown Court on Friday, 10 men pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared in the dock in front of Judge James Adkin.

They are: John James Thompson, aged 26, of Harriston, Aspatria; Dillon Broderick, 22, of Main Street, Ellenborough; Stefan Hargreaves, 29, of Buttsfield Lane, Consett; Ashley George Macauley, 25, of Westnewton Road, Aspatria; Scott David Martin Walpole, 28, of Central Road, Dearham, Maryport; Zane Tinkler, 27, of Brunswick Square, Penrith; Tyler Joseph Wilson, 22, formerly of Grasmere Terrace, Maryport; Maurice Smith, 56, of Craika Road, Dearham, Maryport; and two sons Martin Andrew Smith, 37, of Lonsdale Terrace, Dearham, Maryport; and Wayne Anthony Smith, 33, also of Craika Road, Dearham, Maryport.

Each of the defendants - who entered not guilty pleas during appearances in three separate groups - spoke to confirm their names, dates of birth, nationalities and to deny the burglary conspiracy allegation.

A timetable for the progress of the case was outlined by prosecutor Alaric Walmsley.

All of the defendants are due to go on trial at the crown court in front of a jury later this year.

It is estimated the trial, due to begin on March 5, will last between four and six weeks. A “pre-trial review” hearing will take place on February 25.

In the meantime, Tyler Wilson and Maurice Smith was remanded in custody, and the remaining eight men were granted bail by Judge Adkin.