Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel has denied child sex charges, pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage boy at Liverpool Crown Court this week. Lancel, 42, real name Andrew Watkinson, is accused of six counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 15, reports BBC News.

The actor, who played Frank Foster in the long-running ITV soap, has been charged in relation to one male victim, with the alleged offence taking place between 1993 and 1994, the court heard. Mr Lancel was granted bail until his trial starts on June 2, 2013. He appeared in Coronation Street between January 2011, until March 2012, playing a role in several of the major storylines at the time.

The trail comes as fellow Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell awaits his child sex trial in early September. Le Vell, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap, faces 19 child sex charges, including rape. The offenses allegedly took place between 2001 and 2010. He split from his wife, Janette Beverley, last year. Mr Le Vell has always maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. 

Lancel, wearing a grey suit, white shirt and grey and black tie in court, will face his five-day trial starting on June 2, 2013.

Andrew LancelAndrew Lancel And His Wife At Katherine Kelly's Coronation Street Leaving Party In Manchester