A CLITHEROE man has been accused of threatening to carry out bomb attacks on Tesco stores as part of a £1million ransom plot.

Philip McHugh, 51, of Milton Avenue, Clitheroe, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court in Hertfordshire yesterday accused of attempting to blackmail the supermarket giant.

His appearance came 12 days after the closure of 14 stores across the country, including the branch in Clitheroe.

There was also an alleged threat to the Tesco in Centenary Way, Burnley.

A Tesco spokesman said that McHugh was arrested on Monday in Clitheroe with the help of Lancashire officers and was questioned at a police station in Hertfordshire.

Unemployed McHugh was charged on Wednesday with two specimen counts of blackmail and two of making bomb hoaxes by Hertfordshire Police.

At court yesterday McHugh spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Flanked by two prison officers and wearing a white T-shirt and black trousers, he then listened as the clerk to the court read out four specimen charges.

The blackmail charge alleges that on July 7 and July 13, with a view to gain for himself, he made unwarranted demands for £500,000 on each occasion.

The alleged offences of making bomb hoaxes concerned a Tesco store in Victoria Street, Grimsby and Cornmarket, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

McHugh was not required to enter any pleas to the charges and there was no application for bail.

He will now appear at Luton Crown Court on August 8.

Stores in Clitheroe, Suffolk, Dyfed Powys, Fife, Strathclyde, Leicestershire, Humberside, West Mercia, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and London areas were forced to close on July 14 after threats were received.

The branches were reopened after searches of the supermarkets themselves and surrounding car parks, shops and access roads were carried out.

Hertfordshire Police has been leading the investigation involving a number of forces as the company has its headquarters in the county.

Other bodies including the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Food Standards Agency were also involved.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Kitching from Hampshire Police which lead the inquiry, said: "Throughout the investigation we had excellent co-operation with Tesco and a very good working relationship.

"We have at times received demands for money. At no point did Tesco pay any money.

"These cases are taken very seriously by the police.

"Throughout the whole inquiry public safety was of paramount importance to both ourselves and Tesco."

Jonathan Church, from Tesco, said: "We worked closely with police.

"These threats against our stores were serious and we are pleased an arrested has been made and charges brought.

"The safety of our customers and staff is our first priority."

A Tesco spokesman said that the they had worked closely with Hertfordshire Constabulary and other agencies, including the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Food Standards Agency.