The union leader who spearheaded the campaign to save York Carriageworks is to go on trial, accused of serious sexual offences against children.

Tony Walton is facing eight charges, including indecent assault, with some of the alleged offences dating back more than 30 years.

His solicitor, Donald Coverdale, said it was Walton's intention to plead not guilty to all charges when he appears at York Crown Court next month.

He added that his client, who was on bail, had been "very poorly".

Walton, who now lives at The Hollies, Holme-on-Spalding Moor, was committed to the crown court during a recent appearance before York magistrates.

He is accused of three indecent assaults on a boy aged between ten and 11 in York between November 1988 and November 1990.

He is also charged with three indecent assaults on a male under 14 years in York between August 1966 and August 1968, and with committing an act of gross indecency with or towards a boy under 14 in York during the same period.

He faces a further charge of attempting a serious sexual offence with a male under 16 between August 1966 and August 1968.

Earlier this decade, Tony Walton was a key figure in the lengthy and high profile campaign to save many hundreds of jobs at the ABB carriageworks in Holgate Road.

He worked with the Evening Press and local MPs Hugh Bayley and John Greenway to press for extra train orders to be placed, so that work could be found to keep the factory open.

But the orders failed to materialise and eventually the works closed down, ending more than 100 years of trainmaking in York, and Walton was made redundant with all other workers.

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