A senior politician has been charged with indecently assaulting a boy.

Mark McCarthy, 36, a member of Worthing Borough Council, will appear at Reading Crown Court on February 12 accused of two counts of indecent assault on a child under 14.

The charges are said to related to incidents between February 27 2002 and December 31 2002.

The independent councillor refused to comment on the matter other than to say they were "malicious allegations".

Coun McCarthy has previously hit the headlines after stumbling out of a London nightclub and draping himself across a car.

He was also banned from the council for one month after appearing drunk at an official ceremony.