THREE men who are accused causing the death of teenager Max Lewis by dangerous driving are to face trial by judge and jury.

Daniel Palmer, Connor Forester and Julian Drew all pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared at Swindon Crown Court today.

And Forester and Palmer both denied charges of dangerous driving in relation to the incident on Saturday November 15, last year which left the 19-year-old dead.

It is alleged Palmer, 23, Forester, 19, and Drew, 26, were racing on a narrow country road when the crash happened at about 3pm in Forest Lane, Lacock.

Palmer is said to have been driving a Y-reg Citroen Saxo in which Mr Lewis was a passenger while Drew was in a Nissan Primera and Forester another Saxo.

All three from Melksham pleaded not guilty to the charges and Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to Monday, September 7, when they will face trial.

He remanded Drew, of Littlejohn Avenue, in custody and released Forester, of Meadow Road, and Palmer, of Bowmans Court, on bail.

Palmer also suffered serious injuries when his red Saxo was involved in the collision with a white van.

He was taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital following the smash where he underwent extensive surgery on a broken pelvis and punctured lung.

The van driver, a 25-year-old from Trowbridge, was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath with minor injuries.

Mr Lewis lived in Baldham, Seend, with his father Brian Atkinson, 54. His mum Nicky Lewis, 50, lives nearby in Martinslade with Max’s older brother Dan, 24.

As a child Max attended Seend Church of England Primary School before going to the then George Ward School in Melksham.

He also spent a year at Wiltshire College's Chippenham campus where he studied engineering.