THREE people accused of money laundering have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Graham Bartlett, 35, of Chapelhouse Close, Darlington, is accused of obtaining property to the value of £17,200 between March 1997 and March 1998. Beverley Grimes, 42 and Edward Grimes, 37, of Bousfield Crescent, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, are accused of obtaining property worth £28,850. All three were granted unconditional bail at Darlington Magistrates' Court. The case was adjourned until March 11 for a committal hearing.

CAR CRASH: Three people were injured when two cars collided yesterday in Sunderland. Paramedics were called to the crash in Park Road, at 10.45am. They took a 42-year-old man with neck injuries and a fractured clavicle to hospital, along with a 39-year-old woman and another woman.

SEX STORE: Newcastle City Council has turned down a licence application for a sex shop in the city's Grainger Town area. Dozens of businesses had objected to the application, by company Provincial Enterprises, to open the Adult X store in High Bridge Street.

SPEEDER FINED: A man who admitted driving his Ferrari at almost 100mph on the A1M has been fined. James Law, 31, of Gray Street, Newcastle, was clocked at more than 98mph near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, last June. Sedgefield magistrates fined him £400, plus £35 court costs, and endorsed his licence with four penalty points.

CASE ADJOURNED: A man who has admitted several offences, including an assault, will be sentenced next month. Daniel Edward Peel, 19, of Nickstream Lane, Darlington, admitted assaulting Paul Atkins on September 30, failing to surrender to bail on November 5, driving a car without a licence, insurance or test certificate on July 25, and two public order offences on February 1. He will be sentenced at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on March 3.

INQUEST OPENS: An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday at County Hall, Durham City, into the death of Lee Fenwick, 25. He was found unconscious with head injuries at the foot of stairs in a house in Holly Hill Gardens, Stanley, last Friday night. He was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, where he died the following day.

ALLOTMENT IDEAS: Groundwork West Durham is organising a conference for allotment associations and allotment holders interested in improving their sites. It will be held on Saturday, March 8, from 9.30am to 1pm, in Collingwood College, Durham. Booking forms are available by calling (01388) 662666.

CAR STOLEN: A £45,000 silver Mercedes CLK convertible was stolen from Flambard Drive, Bracks Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on Saturday. Anyone who has seen the car, registration W22 DLW, or has any information, should call police on (01388) 603566.

PEACE VIGIL: The Sedgefield Against War group is to hold a third silent vigil for peace on Sedgefield village green from 11am to noon on Saturday.