SEVEN men have appeared in court charged with pooing on a train and throwing it around the carriage, hitting a woman passenger.

Members of the group were on a train travelling between Bath Spa and Chippenham on July 11 last year, when the faeces-flinging is said to have happened.

Some of the men are accused of discussing sexual exploits within the hearing of passengers and using abusive language towards passengers and asking them to expose themselves.

It is alleged the party got undressed, defecated in a public area and threw faeces that landed on the woman victim.

All seven men have been charged with outraging public decency, a common law charge that carries an unlimited prison sentence or unlimited fine.

Toby Clarke, 22, of Whaddon, Wiltshire, indicated a guilty plea. He will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on March 15.

Bobby Clifford, 21, of Peters Close, Chippenham, admitting outraging public decency and possession of cocaine. He will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on March 15.

Josh Dolman, 26, of William Street, Calne, Allistair Ellis, 25, of Flowers Yard, Chippenham and Edward McCormack, 25, of Waters Edge, Chippenham, will face a trial by jury on the charge they outraged public decency. They will appear at Swindon Crown Court on March 15.

Andrew McCabe, 27, of Drake Crescent, Chippenham, will be tried on the charge that he committed an act outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner by defecating on the train and throwing human faeces around the carriage, causing harassment, alarm and distress. He is due at Swindon Crown Court on March 15.

Dominic Patten, 21, of Chestnut Road, Chippenham, is charged with outraging public decency, endangering the safety of a passenger by throwing a bin lid and a beer can at a train. He also faces two charges of assault by beating.

Magistrates adjourned the case to March 6 to make enquiries over whether Patten can appear at court via video link from the United States.