TWO suspended Merseyside Police staff charged with corruption offences appeared in court yesterday.

Stephen Kell and Kevin Mighall appeared alongside six co-defendants at Liverpool Crown Court.

All eight are charged with conspiracy to commit corruption.

The charges are understood to have been brought after an investigation by the Professional Standards Division of Merseyside Police, and relate to the awarding of contracts for the building and refurbishment of police properties.

Kell, 51, of Queen’s Avenue, Meols, and Mighall, also 51, of Dorchester Road, Noctorum, both Wirral, spoke only to confirm their names.

Merseyside Police suspended the pair pending the outcome of any trial or subsequent misconduct hearings.

Also at yesterday’s hearing were: Paul Moy, 46, of Dark Lane, Lathom, and Paul Gaskell, 34, of Blackmoss Lane, Aughton, both Ormskirk, who both worked for the same mechanical and electrical consultant engineers in Liverpool.

David Lloyd, 59, of Cinder Lane, Calderstones, Liverpool, and Clifford Elliott, 60, of Manor Drive, Upton, Wirral, chairman and director of IFS Contractors Ltd, Bootle.

Alan Cooper, 52, of Ambleside Road, Allerton, Liverpool, and Alan Coslett, 50, of Hill School Road, Eccleston, St Helens, director and employee respectively of builders Whittakers Ltd, Huyton.

They were all granted unconditional bail until April 17, 2009, when they will be asked to enter pleas.

All eight are thought to deny the allegations.