A Selby man accused of child porn offences has been bailed by a magistrates court to reappear in court in three weeks time.

Martin Shergold, 50, faces three charges of making indecent photographs of children at Selby in July and August of this year, contrary to the 1978 Protection of Children Act.

Shergold also faces three charges of possessing indecent photographs of children, contrary to the 1988 Criminal Justice Act.

He is alleged to have downloaded the photographs from the Internet. The maximum penalty for both offences is six months' imprisonment.

Shergold, who lives with his wife in a semi-detached bungalow in Palmer Grove, Selby, works as a senior auditor in the Lord Chancellor's Department in Leeds.

His solicitor, Michael Bebb, applied for the adjournment to December 14, saying his client had been interviewed by police as recently as Tuesday of this week.

David Garnett, prosecuting, said because the alleged photographs involved computer images, the Crown Prosecution Service also needed more time.

Shergold, who was granted unconditional bail by district judge Michael Rosenberg at Selby, is believed to have worked for the Lord Chancellor's Department for more than 30 years.

His job involves auditing the activities of the Lord Chancellor's Department as well as the crown and county courts in Yorkshire.

A spokesman for the country's legal chief's department in London said Shergold is currently suspended from work.