A woman and four men, including one from Rainham, are to stand trial accused in connection with a worldwide internet ring which led to the sexual abuse of two young children.

The five defendants are facing a range of charges at Portsmouth Crown Court including the sexual assault of children and making and distributing indecent photos of children.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, told a previous hearing that the case involved the alleged abuse of two children aged under 13.

It also involved indecent photos being distributed over the web and 2,000 pages of internet chat logs dating between 2008 and 2010, the court heard.

The defendants are Melissa Noon, 29, of Tyseley Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire; Simon Hilton, 28, of Wolsey Road, London; Mark Day, 45, of Whitefriars Meadow, Sandwich, Kent; Daniel Bell, 26, a serving soldier living in military accommodation but previously of St James Road, Emsworth, Hampshire; and John Maddox, 46, of Ellis Avenue, Rainham.

The trial, which is expected to last five weeks, will take place at Portsmouth Crown Court.