A former councillor has appeared in court charged with child sex offences.

William James Kirkbride, 57, of Queen Street, Whitehaven, faces charges of attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The offences are alleged to have taken place in Whitehaven on October 27 last year.

Kirkbride, who formerly represented the Harbour ward on Copeland Council, entered no pleas when he appeared at Workington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The case will be heard at Carlisle Crown Court on February 8.