Two teenagers accused of knifing another youngster will go on trial later this year.

The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons because they are both 17, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday for a plea and trial preparation hearing where they denied stabbing a 16-year-old in Murston, Sittingbourne, at the beginning of the year.

Police were called to an address at around 9pm on Thursday, January 16, to reports of an assault.

It was alleged a group of people had arrived before leaving in a car.

Police and paramedics were called and a boy was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

He has since been discharged and is continuing to recover.

Two teenagers were charged with two offences, wounding with intent and possessing a knife. They both gave not guilty pleas at Friday’s hearing.

A trial, which is expected to take at least five days, is scheduled to start on Monday, July 7.

Another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and later charged with assisting one of the suspects by hiding them in their loft.

He admitted the offence and will be sentenced after the trial in July.

All three were given conditional bail, which includes the two teenagers being banned from the Sittingbourne area.