THREE people have appeared in court charged with sexual offences against a young girl.

The accused, Geoffrey Fowler, 35, of Halton Brook, and his wife Mary, 48, each face eight charges in connection with the abuse of an 11-year-old.

These cover allegations of rape, indecent assault and the taking of indecent photographs.

A third person, Bernard Linford, 50, of Castlefields, is charged with indecent assault on a child, gross indecency towards a child and another serious sex offence with a male.

The Fowlers were remanded in custody by Runcorn magistrates for seven days from last Thursday. Linford was granted conditional bail for the same period.

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