A MAN facing a raft of firearms allegations has appeared before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.

Paul Holmes, 49, faces seven charges following police raids in Holme, Milnthorpe and Morecambe.

Holmes has been charged with two counts of possession of a firearm and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, all at Holme on November 4.

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He is further charged with possession of both a firearm - a side-by-side sawn-off shotgun - and a self-loading smooth bore on the same date at Milnthorpe, along with possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate.

Holmes made a brief appearance at the crown court today in front of Judge Barbara Forrester. He spoke only to confirm his name.

No pleas were entered by Holmes to any of the seven charges, and a case timetable was agreed by prosecutor Peter Barr and defence lawyer Jacob Dyer.

A trial date was provisionally fixed for April 25 next year.

Holmes, of Station Road, Holme, was remanded in custody by Judge Forrester.

He is due to next attend the crown court on March 7, when formal pleas are expected to be entered.

The charges follow a joint operation by Titan - the North West's regional organised crime unit - along with Cumbria Constabulary and the National Crime Agency.