THREE men linked to a business called Eco Improve will stand trail after denying a raft of fraud charges.

Daryl Wilkinson, Paul Anthony Welsh and Simon Norman Benson all arrived at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday facing fraud charges.

The court heard that the men had worked in various capacities as salesmen for a company known as Eco Improve.

But it is alleged that the men knowingly took part in a fraud that involved swindling thousands of pounds in deposits from customers.

Wilkinson, 33, faces the most charges and was the only defendent represented by a solicitor at the first hearing.

He pleaded not guilty to two charges of participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader, 18 charges of fraud by false representation and a single charge of breaching trading regulations.

It is alleged that he told customers that they needed to stump up deposits as high as £2,600 for work to be carried out on their properties.

Welsh, 52, denied a single charge of participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader and four charges of fraud by false representation in which he demanded deposits as high as £1,400 from customers.

Benson, 46, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of “participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader”.

Wilkinson, of Darlington Lane, Stockton, Welsh, of Surbiton Road, Stockton, and Benson, of Maddren Way, Linthorpe, pleaded will now face trial at Teesside Crown Court on March 24.

All three men were released on unconditional bail.