Rape charge soap star given bail

Former Grange Hill star Freeman has been in Emmerdale since 1998

Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman has been granted bail after being accused of raping a 16-year-old British girl while on holiday in Barbados.

The 26-year-old, who plays Scott Windsor in the ITV soap, was arrested on the Caribbean island last week.

The court ruled Mr Freeman, of West Yorkshire, could leave the country, setting bail at 100,000 Barbados dollars (£26,000).

He must return to Bridgetown Court on 15 March.

It is not clear when Mr Freeman, who was accompanied by his parents in court, will return to the UK.

He was arrested following an allegation, made to police on 29 November, of a sexual assault at the Almond Beach Village resort.

The Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance to both Mr Freeman and the teenager who reported the alleged rape.