A BLACKPOOL man standing trial at Belfast Crown Court has denied smuggling almost a million pounds worth of drugs into Northern Ireland.

William McCluskey, 43, of Richmond Court in the resort, has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply 69 kilos of cannabis and more than 25,000 ecstasy tablets.

McCluskey - who is thought to hail from the province - was arrested during an undercover police operation in north Belfast in March 2001.

He was caught with his co-accused, Simon Andrew Wood, 37, of Arran Close in Morecambe, shortly after leaving a ferry at Larne harbour in a white Mercedes van.

The jury heard that police later uncovered the class A and B drugs - with a street value of around £900,000 - hidden inside two shot blasting machines in the van.

Wood is currently remanded in custody awaiting sentencing after confessing to all charges on February 11.

But McCluskey isn't set to face the court until next week.