Actor Michael Le Vell denies child sex offences

Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell denied 19 alleged child sex offences today during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

The 48-year-old, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap, answered "not guilty" 19 times in a clear, strong voice as each of the individual charges were put to him during the 15 minute hearing.

Le Vell is charged under his real name of Michael Turner with 19 offences including six counts of raping a child, six allegations of indecently assaulting a child and seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

The alleged offences relate to one complainant and all took place between 2001 and 2010.

Le Vell was told his trial will take place on September 2 and he was released on bail.

Le Vell, from Hale, Cheshire, was first arrested in September 2011 and questioned over child sex allegations but the matter was later dropped. However in January, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was in the public interest to charge him with the current offences following a review of evidence.

The father of two, originally from Manchester, is one of TV's most famous faces after playing garage owner and mechanic Kevin Webster for the past 30 years.

ITV has said he will not be appearing in any further episodes of the soap pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

In a statement following his arrest, Le Vell, said he was innocent of the charges and intended to "fight them vigorously".