THREE men charged with drugs offences after a man died and a Bolton woman was taken critically ill at a music festival have appeared in court.

Simon Chapman, aged 21, Luke Nathan Fraser, also aged 21, and Michael Mountfort, aged 42, are jointly charged with a drugs conspiracy allegation and appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court.

The charges follow the the death of 18-year-old Christian Pay, from Millom, Cumbria, and a 29-year-old Bolton woman who was taken to hospital but later discharged.

Both had attended last year's Kendal Calling festival in the Lake District.

Chapman, of Race Grove, The Green, Millom, along with Fraser, of Oakfield Grove, Denton, and Mountfort, of Oak Drive, Denton, appeared in court on Tuesday.

They are charged with conspiring together to supply a class A drug, known as PMA, between April 16 and August 1 last year.

During the brief hearing, it was confirmed that no pleas were being indicated to the charge by any of the men.

Their case was committed to Carlisle Crown Court, where they are next due to make an appearance on Monday, March 14.

In the meantime, magistrates remanded Chapman, Fraser and Mountfort on unconditional bail.