THREE men accused of robbing Cherwell Valley Services with a BB gun and knuckle duster have had the case against them dropped.

Anthony Gooch, 35, of Market Street, Bracknell, Mark Sorley, 33, of no fixed abode and Sam Edwards, 25, of no fixed abode, all first appeared at Oxford Crown Court in October.

All three men were at court to deny two counts of robbery, one of possession of a firearm – the BB gun – and another of possession of an offensive weapon – a knuckle duster.

The charges were in connection with an incident that happened at around 8pm on Wednesday September 19 in the car park of the service station, which is at Junction 10 of the M40.

At the time investigating officer Detective Sergeant Mark Personius, of Force CID based at Banbury police station, had launched an appeal for witnesses.

He said that anybody who witnessed anything or who had dash cam or mobile phone footage of the incident should contact police on 101 and quote reference number 43180287311.

Alternatively people could report online via the Thames Valley Police website or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Their trial was set to go ahead on February 25 but at a hearing held at Oxford Crown Court on Monday the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence in the case.

That meant that all men will not face any further action at the crown court and the trial listed for next week was abandoned.