NINE people faced charges of supplying drugs at a County Durham magistrates' court, yesterday.

The group, from Ferryhill and Spennymoor, County Durham, were before Sedgefield magistrates.

Glen Paul Burnett, 22, of Ramsey Drive, Ferryhill, was charged with supplying crack cocaine, and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with two counts of supplying heroin.

Both were released on unconditional bail, to reappear on June 13.

Raymond William Garrett, 31, of Faraday Street, Ferryhill, was accused of 23 counts of supplying heroin and is on technical bail until the same date.

The other six accused were remanded in custody until May 30.

Paul Stephen foster, 23, of Newton Street, Ferryhill, was charged with 11 counts of supplying heroin and one of supplying cocaine, Donna Marie Gardner, 24, of Pearson Street, Spennymoor, is accused of three counts of supplying heroin, and Joanne Littlewood, 31, of Westcott Terrace, Ferryhill, is alleged to have committed three offences of supplying heroin.

Shane Wintersgill, 23, of Ullswater Terrace, Ferryhill, is charged with supplying heroin, cocaine and crack, as well as possessing cannabis.

John Oliver Thompson, 36, of Westcott Terrace, Ferryhill, is charged with five counts of supplying heroin and one of supplying cocaine, and Jeffrey Brown, 28, of Pearson Street, Spennymoor, is charged with four counts of supplying heroin.