SIX men - including three from County Durham - have admitted planning a raid on a supermarket in Northumberland which lasted only "three minutes".

The gang appeared from custody at Newcastle Crown Court today (February 8) where they each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Although the court was not told the details of the case, Vincent Ward, prosecuting, said the incident itself on Friday, January 8, at the Co-operative store, on Hill Street, in Corbridge, was "over and done" with in the space of just minutes.

Chris Knox, a solicitor for one of the defendants, said: "The incident itself lasted three minutes - the act that they conspired to do.

"It was an unsuccessful commercial burglary, an act the police were made aware of and arrived literally three minutes within the event starting."

Among the gang of six are Bishop Auckland men Anthony Hallimond, 28, of Cheviot Walk, Coundon; Neil Lowes, aged 39, of Middlewood Avenue, St Helen Auckland; and Ronald Thexton, aged 32, of Park Road, Witton Park, near the town.

The other defendants are John Robert Barker, 25, of Barley Cop Lane, Lancaster; Thomas Lloyd, aged 29, of Norfolk Street, Lancaster; and Kenneth Yorke; aged 24, of Sandylands Promenade, Morecambe.

All six men admitted to conspiring to enter the food shop as trespassers with the intention of stealing.

Judge Edward Bindloss said: "You have all pleaded guilty and in due course you will receive credit.

"In the meantime you will be remanded in custody."

The group will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, February 22, in a hearing which is expected to last about one-and-a-half hours.

The six men appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates Court, in North Shields, at an initial hearing on Monday, January 11.