A RISHTON couple have been ordered to stand trial at Preston Crown Court on fraud charges involving the running of their bus companies.

Suzanne Bailey, 33, and David Bailey, 43, both of Blackburn Road, are alleged to have obtained more than £500,000 by deception from the Department of Transport, which paid a fuel rebate in respect of their operations involving DSP Travel, Buzy Buzz and Catchmebus.com.

They are also charged with dishonestly obtaining £70,000 from Blackburn with Darwen Council in respect of subsidies paid for operating unprofitable routes, operating their fleet without insurance and using forged insurance documents.

The couple were remanded on bail until April 27 on condition they surrender their passports, live at their home address, do not enter any air or sea ports and report to the police once a week.