Two Canterbury-based soldiers are among three men due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on conspiracy charges relating to explosives.

Col Sgt Garry Graham, 36, and Sgt Kieran Campbell, 27, both based at Howe Barracks, Canterbury, with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, along with Andrew Quinn, 25, from Glasgow, appeared in two hearings at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday and Tuesday.

All are accused of conspiracy to possess explosives between October 31, 2007, and February 16, 2008.

Secondly they are charged with conspiracy to steal explosives, detonators, flares, smoke grenades, destruction grenades and other munitions from the British Army.

A third charge accuses them of conspiring to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods, namely explosives, detonators, flares, smoke grenades and destruction grenades by or for the benefit of another, knowing or believing them to be stolen goods.

Campbell and Quinn have admitted counts one and three but Graham denies all three and will be tried at Maidstone in October.