A GANG was taped talking about a delivery of drugs, a court was told.

The jury at Liverpool Crown Court was played extracts of recordings made by police who bugged the group's "headquarters".

Members of the alleged drug ring heard talking on the tape included Billy Webb, aged 41, of Morrison Street, Great Lever, who died before the case came to court.

John Barber, aged 35, of Breightmet, Alan Bentley, aged 34, of Astley Bridge, Lee Bonney, aged 34, of Great Lever, Carl Entwistle, aged 21, of Brownlow Fold and Raymond Hargreaves, aged 44, of Callands, Warrington, are accused of conspiring to supply Class A drugs between August 3, 1998 and November 17, 1999.

A transcript of the taped conversations was put together by Dr Peter French on behalf of the prosecution.

According to him, Billy Webb was taped saying: "...is it really good? When can I get it...Can I have it for a day, I need to have it looked at...see what it cuts like if you understand what I mean...I will get someone to come and see you..."

Barber is then alleged to say during a conversation on a mobile telephone: "We could have some news today so you might have to get someone ready to go and get something...get in touch with validator... I want him today to look at something..."

A couple of minutes later he is heard receiving a telephone call and is alleged to say: "The validators, they're ready and waiting."

According to the transcript, Barber is then heard saying to a man he refers to as "Benny": "By teatime, you need to add up what we have got...what coin we have got...take into account what is owed to us, what's on the street and everything else..."

Under cross-examination by Michael Shorrocks QC, who is representing Barber, Dr French admitted he could not be completely certain what was being said on the tapes.

He added: "Not every word can be cast in iron.

"It is difficult to hear who is talking. In some cases, you can be 100 per cent certain, in others, you can't."

Dr French told the court a police officer had originally transcribed the tapes which were recorded using a hidden microphone at Debbie's Diner where the gang allegedly used to meet to discuss the purchase, supply and distribution of drugs.

Mr Shorrocks played back two specific extracts from the tapes which he claimed had been transcribed wrongly.

Dr French admitted one of the sentences was wrong and agreed with the defence's suggestion.

The case is due to last up to 16 weeks.