A THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD man from London has appeared in court facing charges in relation to a conspiracy to supply class A drugs in the Chard area.

John Edwards, of Landcroft Road, was brought before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil in custody after being arrested by the police.

He was charged that between July 22, 2015 and May 30, 2016 at Chard he conspired with other persons to supply a quantity of heroin.

He was also alleged between the same two dates to have conspired with others to supply a quantity of crack cocaine.

Prosecutor Robert Reid said that the defendant was alleged to have been the head of a gang which had been supplying drugs in the Chard area and his arrest had come about following a long and extensive investigation.

He added that other people further down the chain of the gang had been convicted of drugs offences following trials at Bristol Crown Court.

Edwards did not enter pleas to either of the alleged offences and the magistrates said they were so serious that they had to be sent to Taunton Crown Court to be dealt with.

They adjourned the case until December 11 when the defendant must attend a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

Until then the magistrates refused an application by defence solicitor Greg Peters to release Edwards on bail and instead remanded him in custody.