A jury hearing the trial of four Bolton men accused of stabbing Anthony George has been discharged and a new trial has been listed to start on February 13 next year.

On Tuesday last week the trial began at Manchester Crown Court of Brendan Carney, aged 26, of Cloister Street, Bolton, his brother Nathan Carney-Williamson, aged 29, of Battenberg Road, Bolton, Roy Meanley, aged 29, of Rowena Street, Bolton and Thomas Lynch, aged 35, of Walley Street, Bolton, who all deny causing grievous bodily harm to Mr George on December 11 last year.

The prosecution allege that the attack, which left Mr George seriously injured, was revenge for the killing of Tyrone Williamson, who was fatally stabbed hours earlier.

Current strike action being taken by barristers meant that evidence was not heard on Monday and Tuesday of this week and, with no sign of the dispute being concluded, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, Judge Nicholas Dean QC, halted the trial today and relisted it for next year.