THREE men are due to appear in court charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

Zaffar Hussain, of Highfield Crescent, Barrowford, appeared at Preston's Sessions House on Monday and entered not guilty pleas to both the charges.

The 50-year-old also entered a not guilty plea to one count of assaulting an emergency worker.

Dion Lucas, 31, of Oxford Road, Burnley, and Declan Livesey, 26, of Henry Street, Rishton, have been ordered to appear in court on June 27, alongside Hussain, where both the men are also expected to enter not guilty pleas to the two charges of affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

The charges relate to an incident on July 8, 2021, whereby the three men are accused of brandishing a metal pole in Cathedral Close in Blackburn, close to the NHS vaccination centre set up at Blackburn Cathedral in the centre of the town.

On the same date, the trio are also accused of threatening to use unlawful violence on a person causing him to fear for his personal safety.

Hussain faces a separate charge of allegedly assaulting Arif Saddique, an NHS security guard, by beating, also on July 8. 

It is thought a trial date will be set for March 2023.