TWO men have been charged with conspiring to cause an explosion with intent to endanger life after a car bomb was planted under a car on a Bolton estate.

The men, who were not named for security reasons, appeared before Bolton magistrates earlier today.

Security was increased at the court before the men appeared facing charges in connection with the planting of the bomb under a car owned by John "Fat Jackie" Thompson - a close associate of jailed former UDA boss Johnny Adair.

The two men were arrested in Northern Ireland on Thursday and returned to Bolton for questioning. A third man arrested at the same time was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The court appearance followed an incident on December 17 last year when a powerful car bomb was discovered under a Ford Escort saloon in Windsor Grove, Halliwell.

The device fell on to the road from underneath Thompson's car as he was driving along Windsor Grove, where he lived at the time.

Thompson stopped the car - some distance from his home - after he heard a rattling noise and a loud bang.

When he got out to investigate, he saw that the device had fallen off his car and on to the road.

Police believe the noise was caused by the detonator which failed to make the bomb explode.

Thompson was one of a band of around 20 members of the loyalist community, including Adair's wife Gina and her four children, who fled Belfast in February.

They came to Bolton to avoid a bloody feud within the UDA, following the murder of UDA brigadier John Gregg. Thompson, a former loyalist inmate, was seen as Adair's number two in the Shankill Road area.

He is said to have taken charge of the feared C Company faction when his paramilitary boss was sent back to prison on the orders of the Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy, who revoked his licence following his release under the Good Friday agreement.

Thompson was jailed in 1993 along with other prominent Adair associates for conspiracy for murder and possessions of weapons with intent to endanger life. He served time in the Maze prison with Adair, who was jailed for directing terrorism.

The attack last year followed an gunfire at the home of Adair's family in Chorley New Road, Horwich.

Five shots were fired through the window of the house in an attack which paramilitary group the Ulster Freedom Fighters later claimed responsibility for.