FIVE people appeared at crown court today following their arrests for alleged armed raids at small village post offices and for drug cultivation.

Three men and a 17-year-old youth are accused of conspiracy to commit robbery, relating to raids at post offices in Wingate and Trimdon Station, County Durham, and at Elwick, near Hartlepool, in December and January.

A 61-year-old woman and two of those accused of conspiracy to rob are also charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis.

Malcolm Robert Robson, 37, of Sophia, Seaham, County Durham, James Darren Murray, 39, of Kirkstone Avenue, Jarrow, South Tyneside, Robert Kirk Pittard, 40, of Princess Park, Liverpool, and a 17-year-old youth face the charge of conspiracy to rob.

Mr Robson and Mr Pittard are also accused of conspiracy to produce cannabis and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Sylvia Bleasdale, 61, also of Sophia, Seaham, is a co-accused on the conspiracy to produce cannabis allegation.

All five appeared at Durham Crown Court earlier today when a timetable was agreed for the case.

It will next be heard at Newcastle Crown Court on July 3, when the defendants will be asked to offer their pleas to the various charges.

A provisional trial date of October 19, also at Newcastle, has been agreed for any potential trial in the case, which could run for between three and four weeks.

Mr Robson, Mr Murray and Mr Pittard were further remanded in custody at the end of today's preliminary hearing, by Judge Michael Cartlidge, who extended bail on Ms Bleasdale and the 17-year-old youth until the plea hearing on July 3.

* Masked men, in two cases said to have been armed with a shotgun, escaped with around £2,000 from the post offices at Wingate, on December 8, and Elwick, on January 26, when a sum of foreign currency was also taken.

The robbers fled empty-handed after the manageress refused to hand over money at Trimdon Station Post Office, on December 23.