AN EX-BURNLEY footballer has appeared in court charged with stealing thousands of pounds worth of beer.

Darren Heemson, 39, denied theft and will face a trial, along with nine other brewery employees later this year.

They are accused of stealing beer and lager, worth between £2,000 and £4,000, last year.

All are Carlsberg Tetley employees in Golborne, Warrington.

They denied the charges and will go on trial at Liverpool Crown Court on November 12.

Heemson, now of Manchester Road, Warrington, was an apprentice at the Turf Moor club.

The left back was promoted to the first team by Tommy Cavanagh in October 1985 aged just 17.

He kept his place for much of the season in the Fourth Division campaign.

He made 36 appearances for the club until 1987 when he was released.

Heemson went on to play for non-league clubs Altrincham, Macclesfield, Witton, Hyde, Barrow and Southport.

The six other Warrington men who have been charged are Stephen Price, 41, of Shaws Avenue, Orford; Garry Smith, 42, of Hollow Drive, Stockton Heath; Darren Cann, 39, of Windermere Avenue, Orford; Damien Farnworth, 46, of Penketh Road, Great Sankey, Warrington; Joseph Finney, 52, of Wednesbury Drive, Great Sankey; and Neil Hennessy, 36, of Lindsworth Close, Great Sankey.

The other three charged are Roy James, 35, of Wigan; Robert Lake, 38, of St Helens; and Alan McCormack, 45, of Edge Hill, Liverpool.