FOUR men have appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with committing acts of gross indecency with other men in public.

They were all arrested in a lay-by off the A666 Bolton road on the moors outside Darwen on Monday and released on police bail.

Clare Fanning, prosecuting, told the court that all four men were of previous good character and after discussing the matter with police it had been decided they were all suitable for a police caution.

The four men who appeared in court were Stephen Austin, 45, who gave his address as Marlborough Brook, Daisyhill, Westhoughton, but whose previous address was Westwood Close, Farnworth, Bolton; Michael Gordon, 33, of Banastre, Chorley; Keith Mayern, 44, of Cutt Close, Wymott Village, Leyland; and Nigel Vaughan Tyldesley, 41, of Bolton Road, Atherton.

They were all remanded on bail until October 31 with the provision that they will not need to attend court if a police caution has been administered.