A GROUP of people alleged to have played a part in the abduction of a North-East child appeared in court yesterday.

Five women and three men, including anti-paedophile campaigner Stuart Carnie, face charges in relation to the alleged kidnapping of the nine-year-old girl in Sunderland, last year.

Six of the eight appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday, when a provisional trial date was set for six weeks from June 4.

They will return to the court early in the New Year, on an unspecified date, for a pre-trial review.

David Alexander, 33, and Jane Alexander, 35, of Vanguard Court, Doxford Park, Sunderland, are accused of abducting a child between January 29 and February 28 last year.

Ellen Thomson senior, 62, and Hugh Thomson, 67, also of Vanguard Court; Pauline Thomson, 37, of Borrowlea, Stirling, Scotland; and Ellen Thomson junior, 38, of Sefton Square, Springwell, Sunderland; Penny Mellor, 38, of Coven Mill Close, Coven, Wolverhampton, West Midlands; and Mr Carnie, 37, of North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, are charged with conspiring to abduct the child.

All but Ms Mellor and Mr Carnie, who missed his train, appeared at the court yesterday.

All were granted unconditional bail to return for the hearing in the New Year.