THREE men are to appear in court next week in connection with a serious pub fight that left one man critically ill.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm following the large-scale disturbance at the Oddfellows Arms, in Haswell, east Durham, on Saturday, April 10.

Several people were hurt, including a 46-year-old man who received a serious head injury. Three men were treated in hospital for various injuries.

A number of arrests were made at the time.

The three men charged are a 26-year-old and a 24-year-old, both from Hartlepool and a 20-year-old man from Leadgate.

They have been bailed to make their initial court appearance before magistrates at Consett on Thursday, December 30.

A fourth man, who is 25 and from Cumbria remains on police bail pending further inquiries.

Police have also charged a 31-year-old man from Durham with possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition.

This follows the recovery of a handgun in Gateshead, which was found as a result of the initial inquiries into the incident at the Oddfellows Arms.

He is due before Gateshead magistrates on Friday, January 7.