A COUNTY councillor charged with a child pornography offence and inciting another man to commit abduction and murder has vowed to clear his name.

Coun Bill Chadwick, deputy leader of the Lancashire County Council Lib Dem group and leader of Preston City Council's Lib Dem group, appeared before magistrates on Monday charged with making an indecent photograph of a child.

He was also charged with inciting John Ernest Goodyear, of Cheshire, to commit rape, torture, kidnap and murder between July 20 and July 30.

The charges came about as the result of an alleged internet chat room conversation Chadwick, of Avenham Road, Preston, had.

He was refused bail at Preston Magistrates and was remanded in custody until next week.

His solicitors, Forbes, said Chadwick would be fighting the charges.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Mr Chadwick emphatically denies any wrongdoing.

"He has put forward his defence from the outset and that will be presented to the crown court.

"He is sure that the truth will come out and this will be seen for what it is. He believes he has fallen into a trap.

"Nobody has been hurt, nobody has been approached and nobody has been attacked and, although he has been retained in custody, he will defend the matter.

"He has not wavered in his three days of custody."

Action has been taken by the county's Lib Dem group to make sure Chadwick's duties are carried out while he prepares for court.

Pendle councillor David Whipp, leader of the group, said today: "We are in the process of reallocating Councillor Chadwick's committee places and redistributing his workload while the trial is pending."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said Chadwick was still a county councillor.