The father of a three-year-old boy injured in a suspected acid attack has denied conspiring with six other people to carry out the assault.

The boy suffered serious burns to his face and arm at the Home Bargains store in Worcester on 21 July.

His 39-year-old father is charged with conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident, in the Tallow Hill area of the city.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to the offence when he appeared at Worcester crown court on Tuesday.

A prison van arrives at Worcester crown court transporting some of the six men facing charges. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

Five other men and one woman – all of whom are facing the same charge – also pleaded not guilty during the hearing.

They are Adam Cech, 27, and Jan Dudi, 25, both from Birmingham, Norbert Pulko, 22, and Saied Hussini, 41, both from London, Jabar Paktia, 41, from Wolverhampton, and Martina Badiova, 22, of Handsworth, Birmingham.

Interpreters of the Dari, Pashto, Czech and Slovak languages were used for the defendants, who were flanked by seven dock officers. About 30 family and friends of the defendants were in the public gallery.

Judge Jim Tindal adjourned the case for a preliminary hearing on 21 September. All the defendants were remanded in custody to appear back at the same court.