A FORMER Ledbury town councillor exposed his private parts to a boy and a girl when their mother was on an evening out, a jury was told.

Martin Eager asked them to touch the flesh but the girl refused and called the invitation "disgusting", said Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting.

The child complained about the behaviour next day to her mother who confronted Eager.

He was said to have apologised for conduct "he knew was wrong" and insisted it would never happen again, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The alleged offence happened four years ago but did not come to light until June this year after police went to investigate an assault.

During the inquiry the girl told officers that Eager "had done disgusting things to her" in the past, said Mr Shakoor.

Eager, 51, of St Cuthbert's, The Homend, Ledbury, denies two charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity between January and December 2004.

On the night of the alleged offence, the defendant asked the girl to look at his exposed parts in a house and then invited her and the boy to touch, said Mr Shakoor.

The girl said she didn't want to do it and left the room.

Eager was said to have explained to the mother at the time that an incident happened after he had drunk too much alcohol.

Arrested by police on June 5, Eager recalled an incident when he was dressed in his boxer shorts after drinking wine.

He claimed the children put their hands into his shorts but he stopped them "when it went too far".

The prosecutor added: "He assured the mother that it was a stupid incident that got out of hand."

The trial continues.