A Steeple Ashton man has appeared before a judge accused of sexually abusing children over a period of 30 years.

David Smith faces 13 counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency between 1976 and 2006.

The 64-year-old is accused of six indecent assaults on a girl under 13, two on a girl under 14, two on a girl under 16, two on a female over 16 and one on a male under 16.

The allegation of indecency relates to a female under the age of 13.

No charges were formally put to Smith, of St Mary's, Steeple Ashton, and he did not enter any pleas during a brief hearing at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Douglas Field adjourned the case to Friday, May 9 and released him on conditional bail until then.

He told him he must not have contact with children under 16 unless supervised by a person agreed by the police and social services or to contact named individuals.