The trial of a magistrate accused of possessing nine explosive devices with intent to endanger life was due to begin today.

Jonathan Wilkes, 40, who sat in Oxfordshire courts, was appearing at Oxford Crown Court after the discovery of a cache of explosives in woodland at Freeland, near Witney, and a further device at Syreford, Gloucestershire.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between August 19 and August 25, 2000.

Father-of-one Wilkes, a computer software engineer and IT consultant, of Royan, France, and formerly of Freeland, denies the charges.