A COUNTY councillor has appeared in court charged with sex offences and inciting another person to commit kidnap, torture and murder.

Coun Bill Chadwick, 48, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group at County Hall and the LibDem leader of Preston Council, was charged with the offences after police searched his home at the weekend.

The charges he faces are of making indecent photographs of a child and inciting another person to commit kidnap, rape, torture and murder.

The court was told the charges relate to an alleged conversation Coun Chadwick had in an internet chat room in July, during which it is alleged he tried to persuade another man to help kidnap and abuse a schoolgirl, aged between 10 and 15.

Nobody at Lancashire County Council was today able to say what would happen to Coun Chadwick politically now, while his Lib Dem leader at County Hall, Pendle's David Whipp, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Coun Chadwick was arrested at his home in Avenham Street, Preston, on Friday morning.

He appeared at Preston magistrates court yesterday. Coun Chadwick spoke only to confirm his name and address. He is to deny the charges.

An application for bail was rejected by the court.

The case was adjourned until next Tuesday, when he will appear before a judge at Preston Crown Court.

Several of Coun Chadwick's borough colleagues were in court for the hearing.

Speaking outside, Coun Ron Marshall told reporters: "I have absolutely no doubt that Councillor Chadwick will be exonerated from these awful charges."

In recent months, Coun Chadwick has helped lead the campaign to save the Lancashire County Council care homes due for the chop in Preston.