FORMAL not guilty pleas have been entered on behalf of two North Staffordshire scrap dealers who are charged with 17 offences under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

Neither Scott Hackney, aged 27, of Bemersley Road, Norton, or Jason Sherratt, aged 33, of Boundary, Cheadle, were present when their solicitor Steve Oldham entered the pleas at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Both men face identical allegations that as scrap dealers who are based at The Metal Exchange, Cheadle, they failed to comply with the requirements imposed on them, in that they did not enter immediately in a book particulars of scrap metal received at the place, namely the date and time and receipt of it in May and June this year.

A trial will be fixed at the next hearing on October 28.

Both men are on still on unconditional bail.