THREE men yesterday admitted various roles in the supply of drugs.

Ross Taylor, 27, Mathew George Arthurs, 24, and 22-year-old Alexander John Clarke were warned by a judge at Durham Crown Court that all options "remain open" when they return to be sentenced later this month.

It follows their 'guilty' pleas to new charges put to them yesterday, the scheduled opening day of a trial for conspiracy to supply the class A and C drugs cocaine and cannabis resin.

Following lengthy debate between their legal representatives, new charges were drawn up to cover individual involvement in drug supply, following observation by a police surveillance team.

An allotment garden featured in their observations and was the venue for at least one of the transactions.

When police moved in to arrest the trio, eight wraps of cocaine and small amounts of cannabis resin were recovered.

Taylor, of Merlin Court, Larkshill, Esh Winning, near Durham, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and supplying cannabis, both said to have taken place on July 30 last year.

Arthurs, of Welby Drive, Ushaw Moor, near Durham, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin, between March 1 and July 31 last year.

Clarke, of Brookdale, Belmont, Durham, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin and possession of the drug, both said to have taken place on July 30 last year.

Barristers for each of the trio handed over a written basis for their pleas. All three then requested preparation of reports by the probation service prior to sentence.

Recorder Peter Ian Atherton bailed the three to return for sentence on October 28. He told them: "The fact that I am granting an adjournment should not be taken as any sort of indication over the exact outcome of this case."