A councillor has been charged with several sexual offences, including allegedly raping and indecently assaulting children.

James Hall, who represents Murston ward in Sittingbourne, will appear in court later this month.

The allegations relate to five victims, with the offences alleged to have been committed between 1986 and 1996.

The 73-year-old, of Tonge Road, Murston, faces 28 sexual offence charges, including multiple charges of raping a girl under 16, indecent assault on a girl under 14 and indecent assault on a boy under 14.

Hall, a councillor on Swale council since 2015, was bailed upon charge and is due to appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 29.

A spokesman for the local authority said: “This is a matter for the police, and we have no legal power to suspend a councillor who has been charged with criminal activity.”

Police have confirmed not all the sexual offences Hall has been charged with relate to children.

There is no legal power for councils to suspend a councillor – they can be disqualified as a matter of law upon conviction for certain offences.