Four RAF servicemen appeared in court today charged with conspiring to smuggle 1.14 million cigarettes into the UK.

Senior Aircraftsman Paul Garbutt, 30, Corporal Stuart Helens, 30, Sergeant Stuart Walker, 42, and Corporal Thomas Warren, 26, all appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

The servicemen allegedly brought commercial-scale quantities of cigarettes into RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, and RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, on military flights.

All four face charges of conspiring to evade duty on cigarettes. SAC Garbutt also faces a charge of money laundering.

The four servicemen appeared alongside civilians Christopher Garbutt and Louisa Garbutt, who are also charged with smuggling cigarettes, and Alison McCabe and Lisa Harrison, who are charged with money laundering.

Prosecutor James Lewis successfully applied for the case to be committed to the crown court.

SAC Garbutt and Warren, of RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, Helens, from Calne, Wiltshire, Walker, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, Christopher Garbutt and Ms Garbutt, from Billingham, Cleveland, and Harrison, from Middlesbrough, Cleveland, will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on April 30.

A preliminary hearing at Bristol Crown Court will be heard on January 19, but the defendants are not required to attend.

The four servicemen were released on bail on the condition they did not leave the UK. The four civilians were released on unconditional bail.