Former Barclays chief executive John Varley, 62, along with Roger Jenkins, 63, Thomas Kalaris, 63, and Richard Boath, 60, entered not guilty pleas at Southwark Crown Court, a court official said.

They deny conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation in relation to the June 2008 capital raising.

Varley and Jenkins denied a second count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation in relation to the October 2008 capital raising.

The four will go on trial next week at Southwark.

The trial is expected to last four months.