THREE men appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday in connection with an alleged assault.

Carl Ian Atkinson, 18, and Ronald Neil Hallimond, 22, both of Coronation Gardens, Staindrop, are accused of assaulting Martin Alexander on Friday April 11.

Atkinson, Hallimond and Andrew Gilbert Watson Ivey, 24, of Front Street, Staindrop, face charges of using threatening behaviour towards Mr Alexander. They denied all the charges.

The incident is alleged to have started in a pub in the village then spilled out on to the street later that night.

The case was adjourned until July 24 for a pre-trial review