FIVE men appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with affray after an alleged incident outside a kebab shop.

Mustafa Bozdogan, 40, of Northgate, and Ozcan Tilki, 36, of Kirkstall Crescent, speaking through interpreters, entered no pleas.

Mehmet Asim Kus, 43, of Abinger Grove, London, John James McCubbin, of Eden Crest, Gainford, and Russell James Newton, 19, of Eden Park, Gainford, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution alleged the incident happened on Sunday, October 26, outside Best Kebab, in Northgate. A fight broke out, it claims, with Mr McCubbin and Mr Newton on one side, and Mr Bozdogan, Mr Tilki, and Mr Kus on the other.

The defendants chose to be tried at crown court. They will appear again at Darlington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, March 18, at 10am. All five were released on unconditional bail.