TWO men appeared before magistrates yesterday facing charges relating to the possession and supply of almost £25,000 worth of drugs.

Both men were arrested during a police search at a property in Leeholme, near Bishop Auckland, in November.

Drugs with a street value of over £10,500, cannabis plants which could yield a crop worth £12,500 and drugs paraphernalia were recovered.

Darras Jones, 44, of Addison Road, Leeholme, admitted possessing 769mg of the class A drug cocaine, 966g of the class B drug cannabis and two cannabis plants on November 6 last year.

Quentin Michael Kean, 47, of Leeholme Road, Leeholme, admitted supplying cocaine between October 29 and November 6 last year, and the supply of cocaine and possession of 651.5g of a class A drug with intent to supply on November 6. Kean denied possession of 39.5g of cocaine with intent to supply on November 6, and the supply of cocaine between July 4 and a November 6.

Magistrates in Bishop Auckland declined jurisdiction for the two charges that Kean denies and will send all other matters to Durham Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be arranged. The case against Jones was adjourned until April 7.