Hospital treatment kept radio and TV personality Barry Bethell from appearing before magistrates.

Bethell, 64, from Seasalter, near Whitstable, who is facing 26 charges relating to child porn and indecent assaults on children, is believed to have had treatment for chest pains.

He is scheduled to appear before Canterbury magistrates again on Friday.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “He has had some medical treatment.”

Bethell, of Kimberly Grove, is accused of taking some of the photos of girls himself.

Other charges relate to photographs of child abuse downloaded from the internet.

Police have classified them in seriousness from level 1 up to level 5 which involves images of extreme child abuse.

Bethell, whose wife Barbara died of cancer in 2004, has not entered pleas to any of the 26 charges.

The presenter is well-known across Kent after working as a DJ on Invicta, TLR and CTFM among others.

Bethell also appeared as a pantomime dame and supported local charities, including Rotary Clubs and the Pearl Newman Fund.

The case is expected to be committed to Canterbury Crown Court for trial.