NINE men are due to go on trial today charged after a Worcestershire lorry was hijacked and the driver's £171,000 computer load stolen.

All the defendants are accused of conspiracy to rob Alan Jones of his load between Sunday, June 16 and Saturday, June 22 last year and conspiracy to kidnap him.

Mr Jones, a married man aged 57, was allegedly held up as he drove on the slip road to Junction 7 of the M5 after leaving Evesham Micros on the Vale Business Park in Evesham for a delivery run.

He was later found unharmed in the boot of a car at Wootton Basset on the M4 near Swindon. His lorry was discovered abandoned on an industrial estate.

The men in the dock at Worcester Crown Court are: Aaron Johnson, aged 19, Simon Johnson, 21, and Frederick Johnson, 43, all of Culmington, Stirchley, Telford; Andrew Currie, 34, of Bourneside Drive, Brookside, Telford; Terry Cutler, 33, of Ellis Peters Drive, Telford; Phillip Price, 47, of West Road, Wellington; Terence Devine, 38, of Coronation Road, Walsall Wood, Walsall; Phillip Dolphin, 40, of Bishopdale, Brookside, Telford and Stephen Booth, 39, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, Telford.

Cutler and Price are also charged with possession of a firearm during a robbery.

Cutler and Simon Johnson are accused of false imprisonment of another man on December 12, 2001, and possession of a firearm with intent to commit false imprisonment.

The trial, which is due to last five to six weeks, is before Judge Michael Mott. The prosecution is led by Nigel Godsmark QC.