TWO men have denied charges arising from an outbreak of violence at a village pub.

George Robert Watson, 40, and his 30-year-old stepson Michael George Holmes are accused of inflicting injuries on a 35-year-old man during the brawl at the Flintlock, in West Cornforth, County Durham, on the evening of Monday February 25.

During a short hearing at Durham Crown Court both denied unlawfully and maliciously wounding the victim with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Mr Watson also denies possessing an imitation firearm, a shotgun, with intent to cause a fear of violence, assaulting another man causing him actual bodily harm and having an article with a blade or point, a knife.

Mr Holmes also denies having an offensive weapon, a baseball bat, and an article with a blade or point, a knife.

The case was adjourned for a trial of up to four days to start at the court on Monday, June 17.

Both Mr Watson, of Cedar Terrace, and Mr Holmes, of Hawthorne Terrace, both West Cornforth, were remanded in custody pending a pre-trial hearing on May 28.

Following the incident police sought a suspension of the pub’s premises licence and have since successfully applied to Durham County Council to revoke it, backed by a closure order agreed by magistrates, in March.