Three men have been charged with using internationally-renowned pottery names to sell ceramic forgeries. Stephen Robert Noble, of Ashwood Factory, Anchor Road, Longton, was charged with 17 theft offences, of which 15 related to the sale or attempt to sale of pottery bearing false trademarks. Counterfeits of Moorcroft vases, old country roses bearing the marks of Royal Doulton, and Wade figurines, were among the charges.

Neil Leslie Wooldridge, of The Quadrangle, Endon, who trades under the name of Elizabeth May China in Longton is charged with seven trademark offences.

Tryone Williams, trading as Bernadette Eve Ceramics, Longton, is charged with three offences under the Trade Descriptions act. The cases of all three men were adjourned by a Newcastle magistrates court, until September 14, to allow the mitigating teams to prepare their defence.

Trading standards officers are prosecuting the men.