A former football team coach has been charged with sexual offences against children.

Anthony Chattell, 27, of Fulwood Heights, Fulwood, has been charged by Lancashire Police following an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse.

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Police say the charges relate to a number of girls aged under 16 and were committed between February 2008 and December 2014.

During this time Mr Chattell worked as a volunteer coach with a local junior ladies’ football team.

The charges against Mr Chattell are one count of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15.

Eight counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, four counts of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.

He is also charged with two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.

He is due to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 7 April.

A statement from Lancashire Police said: “We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and we would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse or who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge it will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity.”

Anyone wanting to report sexual abuse can call the 101 non-emergency number.