TWO men accused of attempted murder appeared in the dock together for the first time yesterday for a brief crown court appearance.

Angus Fitzgerald, 46, and his 26-year-old son, Carl Fitzgerald, are alleged to have tried to kill Ronald Thexton in a shooting last week.

Mr Thexton, 26, was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds after an incident in Bishop Auckland, last Friday.

Officers from Durham Police carried out door-todoor inquiries after the incident.

Carl Fitzgerald, of Weardale Drive, Bishop Auckland, and his father, of Sycamore Grove, in nearby Willington, were arrested shortly afterwards.

They made a tenminute appearance in front of Judge Peter Fox at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, and were remanded in custody.

Neither man entered a plea to the attempted murder charge and no application for bail was made by their legal representatives.

They will return to the same court on October 22 for a hearing at which they will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty.