A TAXI driver from Hadleigh has denied his part in the plotting of the Hatton Garden raid, in which valuables worth more than £10million were looted.

John Harbinson, 42, of Beresford Gardens, denied conspiring to burgle the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit in London’s jewellery quarter along with eight others when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today.

He will stand trial in November at a venue to be confirmed.

John Collins, 74, of Blestoe Walk, Islington, north London, Daniel Jones, 58, of Park Avenue, Enfield, north London, Terry Perkins, 67, of Heene Road, Enfield, north London and Brian Reader, 76, of Dartford Road, Dartford all admitted conspiracy to burgle between January 1 and April 7.

The raid over the Easter weekend saw thieves break into the vault in London's diamond district, after using a drill to bore a hole 20in deep into the vault wall.

Officers believe they got into the building, which houses a number of businesses, through a communal entrance before disabling the lift so they could climb down the shaft to the basement.

Once inside, the thieves ransacked 73 safety deposit boxes.

After facing criticism for the way the incident was handled, the Metropolitan Police apologised for not following procedures when receiving a call from a security firm about an intruder alert at the premises at midnight on Good Friday.

Flying Squad detectives rejected the suggestion they were bungling "Keystone Cops".