THREE men are to face trial following the discovery of a cannabis farm.

Tuan Le Viet, 32, Cong Van Le, 31, and Phuong Nguyen, 20, all of Bradford Road, Brighouse, pleaded not guilty at Bradford Crown Court to producing a controlled Class B drug on or before January 30 this year.

They are charged with producing 1,898 cannabis plants at their address, which is the former Ritz Ballroom.

The trio, all Vietnamese nationals, appeared via video link from HMP Leeds and HMP Doncaster and spoke through a translator to enter pleas.

A fourth defendant, a juvenile who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not present and is expected to enter a plea next week.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp told the court: “The essence of the defence is that all the defendants, including the juvenile, have been trafficked and are acting in one way or another under duress.”

Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone set a five-day trial to start on August 12 this year.