AN undercover police officer has appeared in court accused of child internet pornography offences.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lee Vincent Kelly was denying the allegations on the basis that he had lawful possession of the offending images because of his work.

And District Judge James Clarke made an order under the Contempt of Court Act prohibiting publication of the defendant's address or any photographs of him.

The order was made because of Kelly's work after Gwynn Lewis, defending, said publication of those details could compromise the safety of people still working under cover and others who he had worked with on numerous previous, serious crime cases involving drugs and firearms.

"This is a sensitive matter but not because he is being prosecuted," said Mr Lewis. "The application is being made for those he has worked with on various other operations.

"If his identity is made known that would compromise others who are currently working as undercover police officers. We don't ask for his name to be withheld."

Kelly, 49, who lives in East Lancashire, was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court where he will appear on November 20.

The charges against him include making of 249 category A indecent images of children, making category B and C images and possession of 1,486 indecent images of children, and possessing two extreme pornographic images portraying rape.