NO pleas were indicated yesterday when 14 people appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court in connection with an alleged £20 million conspiracy to defraud.

It follows a two-year investigation by North Wales police into alleged multiple fraudulent mortgage applications.

The defendants include a surveyor, valuers, mortgage advisers and a solicitor from Flintshire.

All were granted unconditional bail at a preliminary hearing before Judge Merfyn Hughes QC, and a plea and directions hearing was fixed for September.

David Levy, prosecuting, said there may be some amendments to a draft indictment.

The accused, who packed the dock, are charged with conspiracy to launder money between 2003 and 2008.

They are solicitor Nicholas John Jones, 52, of Bryntirion, Leeswood near Mold; Frank Edward Darlington, 59, of Vicarage Road, Kelnbrook, Barnoldswick in Lancashire; Christopher Hansen, 48, formerly of Foel, Llansannan, Denbigh but now of Llys y Castell, Kinmel Bay; Lisa Margaret Hansen, 41,of Llys y Castell, Kinmel Bay; Antony Lowry-Huws, 62, of Parc Tudur, Kinmel Bay; Raymond Charles Whalley, 36, of South Hill Road, Prenton, Merseyside; Sheila Rose Whalley, 65, of Tai Duon Bach, Llanfairtalhaearn near Abergele; Linda Campbell, 40, of Baillieston Road, Glasgow; Michael Georgieff-Jones, 67, of Bedw Arian, Cwm Road, Dyserth; Susan Margaret Lowry-Huws, 58, of Parc Tudur, Kinmel Bay; David Arthur McMeekin, 54, of Gala Street in Riddrie, Glasgow;  Brendan Derek Spencer-Whalley, 43, and Nicola Jane Spencer-Whalley, 38, formerly of Pant y Carw, Ffordd y Llan, Llysfaen, but now of Royan in France, and George Walker, 57, of Coed Pella Road, Colwyn Bay.