FIVE men have appeared before Blackburn magistrates after police uncovered two "chop shops" and discovered large quantities of parts from stolen cars.

The court heard many high value cars, including Audi, Mercedes and BMW models had been stolen from outside houses in the North of England after the keys were stolen during burglaries.

Parts from many of the vehicles were discovered at a unit in Pearson Street, Blackburn and another address in Oswaldtwistle.

Noman Hussain, 27, of Belle Vue Street, Muhammed Saad, 26, of Shaw Street, David Michael Barker, 39, of St Aidans Avenue, Kasim Khan, 41, of Hudson Close, and John Nicol-Thompson, 41, of Onchan Road, all Blackburn, were sent on bail to Preston Crown Court charged with conspiring to dishonestly receive stolen goods, namely car parts and vehicles.

They will appear before the Crown Court on September 7.