AN UCKFIELD councillor accused of sexually assaulting four teenage girls has denied the charges.

Independent town councillor James Anderson, 33, pleaded not guilty to the six sexual offences at Brighton Magistrates' Court this morning.

Two of the charges allege the store owner sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl between January and March 2015, and sexually assaulted the same girl between March 2015 and January 2017.

The third charge alleges that he caused the same girl to engage in sexual activity without consent between March 2015 and January 2017.

A fourth charge alleges that he sexually assaulted another girl, aged 15 years, between March and July 2015.

A fifth charge alleges that he sexually assaulted another girl aged 15 between November 2015 and January 2016.

The sixth charge alleges that he sexually assaulted another girl aged 17 between September 2013 and April 2014.

Mr Anderson of Michelam Road, Uckfield, who owns discount store Allsorts, is town councillor for North ward.

Magistrate John Low sent the case to Lewes Crown Court where he will appear next month for a preliminary hearing.