TWO local men each jailed for 14 years for their part in one of the country's biggest-ever cash heists will begin their bid for freedom at a special hearing next week.

Prestwich security guard Graham Huckerby and James Power, from Bury, are both appealing against their sentences imposed at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, two years ago.

Their cases were referred to the Court of Appeal last September. A special directions hearing will take place on Tuesday ahead of the full Court of Appeal hearing which is expected to be held in September or October.

Ex-policeman and security guard Huckerby, of Clifton Road, Prestwich, was said to be the "inside man" behind the raid in July 1995 at the Midland Bank Clearing Centre in Salford.

At the original court hearing, it was alleged that Huckerby accepted a bribe to let masked gunmen hijack his bullet and bomb-proof Securicor vehicle, kidnap him and steal £6.6 million. But Huckerby and his family have always maintained his innocence.

James Power, of Hornby Street, Bury, said to be an accomplice and described as Huckerby's "handler", has also appealed against his sentence.

Award-winning journalist and former Prestwich man Don Hale has been working on the Huckerby case.

He said: "I spent six months investigating the case and presented fresh evidence which helped a single judge last year refer the case directly to the Court of Appeal."

Next week's directions hearing is seen as a "rehearsal" prior to the main Court of Appeal hearing later this year.

Mr Hale added that Huckerby could apply for bail next week, depending on the outcome of the hearing.

In 2001 Mr Hale succeeded in campaigning for the release of Stephen Downing after he had served 27 years for the murder of Wendy Sewell in Bakewell, Derbyshire.