Roache trial for sexual offences set for January

Coronation Street star Bill Roache will face trial in January over allegations of historic sexual offences against five girls.

The 81-year-old actor was charged in May with two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1967, and last week he faced fresh charges of five indecent assaults involving four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16.

Roache appeared yesterday for a five-minute preliminary hearing at Preston Crown Court. His trial date was set for Jan 13.