Wiltshire County Council's head of emergency planning has appeared before Swindon Crown Court to plead not guilty to fiddling his expenses.

David Head faces 11 charges of obtaining property by deception dating from April 15, 1999 through to April 30, this year.

The sums involved in the charges, which total more than £300, range from £11.23 up to £52.43. Mr Head, 64, of Canters Way, Minety, denied all of the charges and the case was adjourned so the date for a trial by jury to be fixed.