A CROWN court jury is to decide the case of a 15-year-old south Cumbrian boy who has been accused of multiple rapes against two girls.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Nicholas Barker and formally entered not guilty pleas to eight alleged sex offences against two girls, both of them younger than he is.

He is accused of raping both girls on three occasions and sexually assaulting each of them once. Remanding the defendant into local authority accommodation, Judge Barker adjourned the case until March 3 next year when the trial will get underway.

The trial is expected to last at least one week.