Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie appeared in court today on charges relating to the phone-hacking scandal.

Mrs Brooks, 44, and Mr Brooks, 49, who live in Sarsden, near Chipping Norton, were at Southwark Crown Court in London for the preliminary hearing.

She faces three charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Her husband is charged with one count of the same offence.

They were bailed until September 26 when a plea and case management hearing will be held at the same court.