A 17-YEAR-OLD, a man and two women have been accused of involvement with a 'county lines' gang who plotted to supply heroin and crack cocaine in North East Wales.

Barry Jones, 26, of Liverpool, Ellen Howard, 28, of Primrose Valley Road, Crosby, Merseyside, Melanie McLaren, 23, of Padstow Road, Greasby, Wirral and the Liverpool youth deny conspiring with others to supply drugs between February last year and July.

Opening the case at Caernarfon Crown Court, prosecuting counsel John Philpotts said county lines operations had become a “growing scourge” which involved criminal gangs extending their drug dealing from large cities into smaller county towns and rural areas.

“This is a county lines case because during last year two men from Merseyside conspired to supply class A drugs heroin and cocaine in Deeside.

"They have pleaded guilty,” Mr Philpotts told a jury.

The prosecution claimed the four accused in the trial were part of that plot.

Mr Philpotts alleged a group headed by Thomas Collins was known as 'Smokey’s Crew'.

The barrister said in March a 'flare' text message had been sent to 10 people stating: "On with both." Mr Philpotts said it was a mailshot advertising the availability of the drugs.

Further messages had been sent to a growing number of recipients.

A phone number associated with the teenager had been traced travelling between Liverpool and Deeside.

Cars had been hired by the women, the prosecutor added.

Mr Philpotts said in May McLaren had been driving a hired Mercedes car captured on CCTV at the Mersey Queensway tunnel heading in the direction of North Wales.

Collins and the boy were passengers.

On July 11 police executed a warrant at Connah’s Quay. They also stopped a vehicle at Queensferry containing co-conspirators and the women defendants, he said.

Drugs and cash had been recovered.

Mr Philpotts said the boy declined to answer questions.

Howard claimed she had been going to Deeside to collect clothing and she was doing someone “a favour”.

McLaren denied drug dealing.

Jones denied allegations put to him and said his aunt lived at Queensferry.

The trial before Judge Timothy Petts continues.