SIX people accused of an international marriage scam appeared before a crown court judge yesterday.

Veronika Horvathove, 22, Denis Baiger, 26, and Peter Abiodun, 27, all from Bradford, and Adesola Adewole, 29, Adeola Orobiyi, 28, and Richard Okunade, 24, all from Manchester, appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

They are charged with conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration.

Horvathove, Abiodun, Adewole and Orobiyi are also accused of unlawful possession of fraudulent documentation with intent.

The six, who originate from the Czech Republic, Nigeria and Liberia, were among 14 arrested by police and UK Border Agency officers at Hartshead Moor services on the M62 and around Cleckheaton on July 20.

They were arrested hours before two weddings were set to take place in West Yorkshire.

The ceremonies were believed to have been arranged at churches in Scholes, Cleckheaton.

Recorder of Leeds Peter Collier QC bailed Horvathove and remanded the other five defendants to appear at a plea and case management at Leeds Crown Court on October 7.