Six Shropshire men have appeared in court accused of trafficking up to 20 young women for sexual exploitation.

The men, of Telford and Wellington, were arrested as part of Operation Chalice investigating human trafficking and sexual offences.

They appeared in Shrewsbury Crown Court today for a preliminary hearing before being remanded in custody until a hearing on June 14.

Ajmal Tanveer, 27, of Crescent Road, Hadley, faces two charges of jointly trafficking two girls for sexual exploitation. He is charged jointly with others of inciting prostitution. Rafaqat Hussain, 26, of Urban Gardens, Wellington, faces one human trafficking charge.

Noshad Hussain, 19, of Regent Street, Wellington, is accused of trafficking and supplying cannabis and conspiring to commit an offence of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Mohammed Choudhrey, 51, of Solway Drive, Sutton Hill, and Tanveer Ahmed, 38, of Urban Gardens, Wellington, face two trafficking charges and inciting prostitution.

Marhoof Khan, 32, of Caradoc Flats, Wellington, is charged with trafficking and conspiring to engage children in sexual activity.

The charges are alleged to have happened between January 1, 2008 and December 7, last year.

Today Mr Mark Linkins, prosecuting, said a total of 20 young girls were involved in the charges.