A former vicar has been accused of carrying out a series of historical sex attacks against young girls dating back to the 1970s.

Guy Bennett, 83, of Lewes Road, East Grinstead, is charged with 22 counts of indecent assault and one count of outraging public decency.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: "The offences against nine victims aged under 16 years old happened over a 15-year period between 1977 and 1992.

"The incidents took place in the Oxted and London areas."

Bennett is on conditional bail and is due to appear at Redhill Magistrates' Court on November 21.