Three men accused of being involved in a pub shooting where a pensioner died are to be tried by a jury.

Fred Fowler, 72, died and Michael Nixon, 19, was injured when two gunmen burst into the Tap and Barrel Pub, in Hendon, Sunderland, on July 18.

Lee Hay, 19, of Patterdale Street Hartlepool, William Tobin, 46, of Kilwick Street, Hartlepool, and Robert Fox, 36, of Rotherham Road, Sunderland, all deny the murder of Mr Fowler and the attempted murder of Mr Nixon.

Each also deny a charge of grievous bodily harm assault with intent.

Mr Fox pleaded not guilty to further charges relating to July 18 of possessing a .38 calibre handgun with intent to endanger life, possessing the same weapon without a firearms certificate, and a single charge from a separate matter of possessing a revolver with intent to endanger life on March 10.

The pleas were taken when the men appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

A fourth man, Robert Chapman, 36, of no fixed address, appeared in court facing charges in relation to the shooting incident, but entered no plea.

A preliminary date of January 17 was set for the trial. All four men were remanded in custody until then.