Police killer Dale Cregan's mother and a police call handler have appeared in court accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Dale Cregan was given a whole-life sentence earlier this year for the murders of Scots Pc Fiona Bone and her colleague Pc Nicola Hughes and father and son David and Mark Short. Anita Cregan, 56, and Kathryn Smith, 25, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) employee, are charged alongside Smith's boyfriend, Sean Booth, 30.

Anita Cregan appeared by video link from Styal women's prison in Cheshire and Booth by video link from Strangeways in Manchester, for the hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

Smith, who is on bail, stood in the dock as all three entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

A bail application for Anita Cregan and Booth was refused by Judge Michael Henshell and both were remanded into custody to December 11.