A 75-year-old man has appeared in court to deny sexual activity with a boy.

John Edwards of Henwick House, St John's, Worcester appeared at Worcester Crown Court today which was sitting at the city's magistrates court.

Wearing a blue shirt and a mask, the defendant was asked to confirm his name before he was formally arraigned by the clerk.

Edwards denied all three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 when he appeared before Judge Martin Jackson.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between June 2004 and June 2007, all against the same complainant.

Particulars of the offence formed part of each charge and were read out in open court. They included allegations he touched the boy's private parts and touched the boy's bottom while performing a sexual act upon himself.

The trial was fixed for June 7 next year and is expected to last five days.

Judge Jackson told the defendant: "As you have pleaded not guilty there will have to be a trial."

The judge granted him unconditional bail in the meantime.

He was told the trial could take place at Worcester or Hereford.