Agency owners are facing trial at Crown Court after allegations that they kept £42,700 of rental deposits.

George and Kim Overill, of Thorpe, Essex, are being prosecuted by Essex Trading Standards.

They appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court where they pleaded not guilty to charges that their firms, Oakpark Asset Management and Oakpark Properties, allegedly failed to lodge tenancy deposits in approved schemes.

The firms operate in the Tendring and Clacton areas of Essex.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges and wished for the trial to be dealt with at Crown Court.

A hearing will take place at Chelmsford Crown Court on August 16.