CORONATION Street actor Bill Roache has said he is "astounded and deeply horrified" at allegations he raped a 15-year-old girl in 1967.
The Ilkeston-born star, who was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of two counts of rape and later bailed after being charged, said he intended to fight to prove his innocence.
"I am astounded and deeply horrified by the extraordinary events of the last 24 hours," he said in a statement.
"I strenuously deny the allegations and will now focus my full attention on fighting to preserve my innocence in the challenging times ahead.
"I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all those people who have offered me their support and good wishes at this difficult time."
Roache, 81, who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV1 soap, was arrested by Lancashire police at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on Wednesday morning on suspicion of offences involving a 15-year-old girl in 1967.
He is the world's longest-serving soap actor, having appeared in Coronation Street since its first episode on December 9, 1960. Roache, who was appointed an MBE for services to TV drama, will not appear in the soap while the case is on-going, posing a complex challenge for producers to edit his character out of several storylines.
Detectives searched the actor's house and took him to be interviewed at an undisclosed police station in Lancashire.
Lancashire constabulary said the offences are alleged to have been committed in Haslingden, near Accrington, Lancashire, between April and July 1967.
Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service North West, said: "We have carefully considered all the evidence gathered by Lancashire police in relation to William Roache following allegations of rape. Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged with two offences of rape relating to a girl, aged 15, in 1967."
Roache will appear at Preston magistrates' court on May 14.
