A HEYSHAM man and nine others arrested in a major police operation all denied a drugs plot charge when they appeared before Preston Crown Court.

All of the defendants pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate between September 1999 and February this year.

A trial dates has been set for January 14 next year.

The ten are Collin Threlfall, 38, of Bowland Road, Heysham, John Sawley, 43, of Little Toms Lane, Burnley, James McGeogh, 49, of Lenches Road, Colne; Anthony Lockwood, 40, of Stocks Lane, Middup, Clitheroe; Thomas Harrington, 39, of Beverley Road, Blacko, Nelson; Matthew Glover, 38, of Kingsmill Lane, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire; Paul Davies, 30, of Montgomery Drive, Burnley; Peter Baldwin, 39, of no fixed address and Robert Summer, 36, of Church Street, Bollington, Macclesfield.

All denied conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate between September 1999 and February 2001.

Seven of the defendants, Glover, Lockwodd, Harrington, Sawley, Davies, McGeogh and Threlfall, all denied conspiracy to supply ecstasy between the same dates.

In addition, the seven along with Baldwin denied a charge of conspiracy to supply cannabis resin over the same period.

Summer pleaded not guilty to possession of amphetamine sulphate with intent to supply on May 24 2000 and possession of ecstasy with intent to supply in March this year. He also denied possession of cannabis.

Meanwhile, Threlfall denied possession of ecstasy with intent to supply in October last year.

Sawley pleaded not guilty to possession of amphetamine sulphate with intent to supply in December last year.

Several of the men are in custody.