THREE men from Brierfield have been charged with assault and child sex offences after police carried out raids across Nelson.

Shiraz Arzal, 24, of Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, Nelson is charged with causing or inciting a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Mohammed Imran Amjad, 24, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, Nelson, is charged with arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and child abduction.

Omar Mazafer, 20, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, Nelson is charged with two counts of Section 39 common assault.

All three men have been remanded into custody to appear at Burnley Magistrates' Court on 11th March 11.

The charges follow an on-going investigation by detectives from the Freedom Team which aims to tackle child sexual exploitation in Pennine Division.