SEVEN former prison officers who worked at a detention centre appeared in court today charged with abusing teenage inmates in the 1970s and 1980s.

The ex-staff members of Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, County Durham, were at Teesside Crown Court for a legal arguments during an administrative hearing, which was attended by some of the alleged victims.

All of the accused - who are now all in their 60s and 70s - denied all the allegations they face, and dates for their trials have already been set.

The charges are the result of one of the country's biggest inquiries into claims of sexual and physical abuse - Operation Seabrook, which was launched in August 2013.

All the former prison officers are charged with misconduct in a public office and physical abuse. Four of them are also charged with sex offences.

The defendants are:

• Kevin Blakey, 66, charged with two counts of misconduct, two counts of wounding and two of assault.

• Alan Bramley, 69, charged with misconduct, wounding and three counts of assault.

• Brian Johnson Greenwell, 70, charged with misconduct, false imprisonment, two counts of assault and a further count of committing a serious sexual offence.

• David McClure, 62, charged with misconduct, wounding and three counts of assault.

• John McGee, 74, charged with misconduct, four counts of assault, two counts of indecent assault, wounding and a further count of committing a serious sexual offence.

• Christopher Onslow, 72, charged with two counts of misconduct, two of a serious sexual offence, two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm, two counts of wounding with intent, three counts of assault and one of indecent assault.

• Neil Sowerby, 61, charged with misconduct, two counts of assault, four counts of indecent assault and three counts of committing a serious sexual offence.

Their addresses cannot be reported for legal reasons, and none of the alleged victims can be identified.

Mr Onslow's trial will be held in September; that of Mr McGee, Mr Sowerby and Mr Greenwell will be in November; and Mr McClure, Mr Bramley and Mr Blakey will be back in court for their trial next January.