Coronation Street actor William Roache has been found  not guilty of a string of sex offences.

Mr Roache, 81, who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, had denied using his fame and popularity to exploit five youngsters between the mid-60s and early 70s.

The jury heard from five women who claimed  Mr Roache  sexually assaulted them when they were 16 or under, either at Granada Studios in  Manchester , in his car or at properties he owned.

The not-guilty verdicts came at the end of a four-week trial at Preston Crown Court.

Mr Roache stood motionless in the dock as they were read out.

His children wept in the public gallery and applauded their father as he left the dock.

ITV said after the verdicts: "We look forward to talking to Bill soon about his return to work."

Mr Roache, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, was accused of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault on various dates between 1965 and 1972.

In denying all the offences, Mr Roache said he did not even know any of his accusers and had never had a sexual interest in underage girls.

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