A former consultant paediatrician accused of a string of historic sexual assaults and rape against ex-patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital appeared before a judge today.

Eighty-one-year-old Michael Salmon appeared via video link as he was told his trial would begin in October after he denied 26 counts relating to indecent assaults and rape of young girls and boys.

Salmon, who sat in a chair and wore a blue shirt as he was told his next appearance at court would be in October for his trial, worked as a consultant at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at the time of the allegations in 1989.

In recent years the Buckinghamshire hospital has been at the centre of a number of investigations regarding previous sex attacks linked to Jimmy Savile.

Salmon, a former consultant, from Wiltshire, is charged with the rape of a girl under 16 years, 19 indecent assaults and the indecent assault of a boy under 14 years.

Sitting at Reading Crown Court this morning, Judge Johanna Cutts told Salmon the next time he will appear at court will be on October 31 when he will face a jury.

Salmon was granted technical bail until he next appears at Reading Crown Court.