LATEST UPDATE: Eight men not guilty of Blackburn murder attempt

SEVEN people including two men from Blackburn have appeared in court charged with conspiracy to commit murder following a shooting incident.

Baber Qasam, 29, of Chestnut Walk, Blackburn, and Yasser Khan, 24, of July Street, Blackburn, were charged after more than 100 officers swooped on several houses across the country on Monday.

Donna Cosgrove, 24, of Warrington, Cheshire, and Gareth Curtis, 30; Gary Powell, 28; Ashley Duhaney, 21, and David Corbet, 22, all from Greater Manchester, were also charged.

All seven were remanded in custody to Preston Crown Court by Blackburn magistrates today.

The charges follow an incident in February when a bullet was fired at a Fiat Punto in Accrington Road.

Police said the bullet missed the 20-year-old passenger, who was with his cousin at the time, by inches.