A former scout leader has been charged with possessing indecent images of children and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

Roland Frankel, 61, of Theydon Park Road in Theydon Bois, is also accused of attempting to pay for sex with a girl aged between 13 and 15.

The offences are alleged to have happened on November 13 in 2013 with Mr Frankel voluntarily attending a police station in the same month.

The Liberal Democrat activist, who was chosen as Villager of the Year last year, is set to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on February 11.

Mr Frankel served as a scout leader in Theydon Bois and was chosen as Villager of the Year by the village parish council, where he was praised for dishing up candy floss in support of the annual Donkey Derby.

As Villager of the Year, Frankel took on new duties to be at the Christmas fair to switch on the lights and judge the window display.

He was first elected in 2006 in Theydon Bois and is still a member of the Lib Dem Focus Team in Epping.

In 2010 he supported the efforts to bring Theydon Bois youth centre back into use for local young people, speaking out at the time against houses being built on the youth centre site.

He said: "Through my involvement with the Scouting movement, I have worked closely with young people in the village over many years."

Mr Frankel stood for re-election that year, but narrowly lost to current Conservative councillor Sue Jones.

In 2012, he came a narrow second in the district council elections to Conservative candidate John Phillips.

He was not selected to stand in the 2014 elections.