SIX men have pleaded not guilty to historic abuse charges that were said to have taken place at a South Lakeland school for young people with behavioural problems.

Police arrested them as part of the Operation Tweed investigation into Underley Hall School at Kirkby Lonsdale. They entered their pleas at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Kendal following a brief hearing. They were all released on unconditional bail to appear for trial at Carlisle Crown Court on March 20.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Errol Mayer, 72, of New Road, Kirkby Lonsdale, faces 18 charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and ten counts of child cruelty.

James Farish, 57, of Oakwood, Kendal, David Hadwin, 70, of Raygarth, Kirkby Lonsdale, John Studley, 65, of Maryland Close, Silverdale, and Fred Taylor, 74, of Lower Park Royd Drive, Sowerby Bridge, are all charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Derrick Cooper, 76, of Hillberry Green, Douglas, Isle of Man, was charged with six offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and two offences of child cruelty.