A 38-YEAR-old man has been charged with rape and burglary in connection with the sexual assault of a woman who was then locked in her shed after being burgled.

Karl Vickers, of York Close, Clayton-le Moors, appeared before Blackburn Magistrates Court on Saturday where he faced two allegations of rape and one of burglary.

It is alleged that Vickers attacked a 51-year-old woman in her home in Clayton-le-Moors in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

After the attack the woman was then forced into a shed at the rear of her terraced property.

The case was sent to Preston Crown Court.

Vickers was remanded in custody and will appear at the court on January 30.

Police released two 25-year-olds without charge who were arrested at addresses in Blackburn on Thursday.

One had been arrested on suspicion of burglary and sexual assault, the other on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A 30-year-old man from Rishton, who was also arrested, was eliminated from inquiries and released without charge, but given a caution for a drugs offence.