A company secretary and a director of a former Pershore company have appeared before a judge charged with illegally dumping waste products.

Waste specified in 16 charges at Worcester Crown Court included wood, metal, bricks, tyres, concrete, soil, plastic and electric cable.

John Bruce, who was company secretary of Ivory Plant Hire, of The Crabbe Yard, Wadborough -- the firm was liquidated earlier this year -- director Ann Gartlan and a driver with the company, Andrew Vorwerg, face trial by jury at a date to be fixed.

Bruce, aged 29, of Enid Blyton Corner, Droitwich Spa, pleaded not guilty to seven charges of depositing controlled waste on land without a duty of care licence and denied two charges of forgery.

Gartlan, 37, of the same address, pleaded not guilty to eight charges of illegally depositing controlled waste.

Vorwerg, 38, of Cherrington, Drakes Broughton, denied one charge of illegally depositing waste.

The charges span the period from August 1999 to May 2000 and allege dumping at sites which include Warndon in Worcester, Stoulton, Bishampton, a layby in Earl's Croome and Bushey, near Tewkesbury.

Defence counsel made it known that they want the trial moved from Worcester to an alternative venue in Birmingham or Wolverhampton. There are over 70 witnesses.

Judge John Cavell said an application would have to be made to a High Court judge.

He remanded Bruce in custody and gave Gartlan and Vorwerg bail.

Covic Construction, which was leased The Crabbe Yard by Ivory Plant Hire, was charged earlier this year with contravention of an enforcement notice relating to large scale tipping.