THE suspect accused of a bomb hoax which shut down a North Yorkshire town for several hours has appeared in court.

Armed police and tactical officers locked down a large area of Knaresborough on October 16 last year, after a number of phone calls were made to Crimestoppers and West Yorkshire Police reporting a bomb threat in the town.

Shamsul Islam, 23, appeared before York Crown Court and denied three charges of communicating false information with intent, namely calls to West Yorkshire Police and Crimestoppers. He was also charged with perverting the course of justice after he was stopped by police while driving a Volkswagen Golf without insurance between May 25 and October 16 last year. He admitted giving false details to the officer, by claiming to be his brother Habibul.

Habibul Islam, 22, also appeared before the court charged with one count of perverting the course of justice and one count of committing fraud, by producing his insurance details to police in relation to his brother’s offence, and giving a false address to his insurance company, both between May 25 and October 16 2013. He admitted both charges.

Shamsul Islam was remanded in custody ahead of a trial in November.

Habibul Islam was released on bail.