SEVENTEEN men have appeared in court charged with more than 60 metal theft offences.

The appearance, at Bolton Magistrates Court, on Thursday, followed a large-scale operation carried out jointly by British Transport Police and Greater Manchester Police.

Operation Rhondda saw officers from both forces targeting scrap metal dealers across Greater Manchester who were believed to be involved in criminal activity.

All 17 men face charges ranging from attempting to receive stolen goods to assisting others in the commission of a criminal offence and have been bailed to appear at Bolton Crown Court on Friday, December 20.

The men in court were Garry Dolan, aged 43, of Middleton Road, Middleton; Anthony Foster Jnr, aged 25, of Eagley Bank, Rochdale; Anthony Foster Snr, aged 50, of Woodhouse Lane, Norden; Lee Tomlin, aged 27, of Fairview, Littleborough; Nathan Patrick Gibson, aged 25, of Elleray Road, Middleton; Joseph Cash, aged 76, of Grey Road, Altrincham; John Bowling, aged 27, of Changeway, Salford; Paul Dawson, aged 46, of Hampton Road, Bolton; Gary Ogden, aged 47, of Green Lane, Bolton; Gary Young, aged 44, of Levens Drive, Bolton; Stephen McQuaid, aged 34, of Vernon Street, Bolton; Aaron Millar, aged 19, of Priory Place, Bolton; Wayne Dowie, aged 34, of Russell Street, Bolton; Paul Lever, aged 48, of Beaumont Chase, Bolton; Terence Day, aged 60, of Grange Park Road, Manchester; David Day, aged 35, of Charlestown Road, Manchester; William Dillon, aged 56, of Grange Park Road, Manchester; Ray Packun, aged 50, of Blackburn Road, Bolton, will appear at Bolton Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 12, charged with four similar offences.