A LOTTERY millionaire failed on Tuesday to save his son from being kept in jail on a £1m drug smuggling plot.

Retired haulage contractor Ken White offered a substantial part of his £6.6m windfall for his son, Richard, to be released on bail at Manchester City Magistrates Court.

But Richard White, 33, who is one of seven men accused of conspiring to bring in 300 kilos of cannabis resin from Spain was remanded in custody until Friday.

White, of Meadowbank Gardens, Glazebury, and Thomas Dawson of Green Lane, Leigh, were arrested after customs and police in 'Operation Harlequin' swooped on a farm off Green Lane, Leigh, and seized the cannabis from a 45 foot lorry.

Mr Adrian Lovatt, defending, said White, who was given £1m of his father's winnings, would "strenuously deny" the charge.

Richard White also offered £250,000 towards his bail.

Dawson, who did not apply for bail, was also remanded until Friday.

The court appearance was the culmination of a joint operation between customs officers and the Regional Crime Squad.

White and Dawson first appeared before the magistrates on Saturday.

A woman police officer was also arrested in connection with the drugs haul. She was among six people released on police bail without being charged and was suspended from duty by Greater Manchester Police bosses.

Others charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs, and remanded were: Peter Jemmett, 46, from Worsley; William Chew, 45, from Salford; Anthony Toby, 32, from Manchester; Mark Martucci, 34, from Withington, and Michael Scully, 45, from Bradford.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.