TWO men accused of sending a bottle containing caustic soda in a package to a councillor in Blackburn were today sent for trial at London's Old Bailey.

The two are also alleged to have sent a similar package to a Glasgow journalist.

They are now due to appear at the Old Bailey on 13 July for a plea and case management hearing.

City of Westminster Magistrates' Court today sent for trial Wayne Cook, 45, and Steven Kerr Robinson, 42, both of 2 Robert Street, Tyldesley, Manchester.

They are charged with two offences on 25 April 2007 of sending two packages containing a noxious substance or other noxious thing, Sodium Hyrdroxide (Caustic Soda') which was likely to endanger human life or create a serious risk to the health or safety of a section of the public.

Their alleged action was, say the charges, "designed to influence the government or to intimidate a section of the public Contrary to Section 113 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001."

Robinson had initially appeared in court on his own before Cook was later arrested and jointly charged.

There was no application for bail .