A PENSIONER today spoke for the first time of his relief after sex charges against him involving a four-year-old girl were dropped.

But today, the girl's father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was unaware the case had been dropped and was amazed that he had not been informed of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decision.

The CPS said it was down to the police to inform the family but they would now be writing to them to explain what had happened.

Joseph Williamson, 77, was charged last year with three counts of rape and three of indecent assault on the girl and was due to appear in crown court next month.

But the former publican, of Grafton Street, Blackburn, was told this week that all the charges against him, dating back more than 10 years, would be dropped, ending almost a year of misery.

The girl is now 16 and still lives in Blackburn.

Mr Williamson, who along with wife Irene, 72, ran the Commercial pub in Bolton Road, for 10 years, said: "I have been treated like a rapist for almost a year and I am overjoyed that this is over. My life has been hell and I haven't been able to eat, sleep or do anything.

"To suggest that I would be capable of doing anything like what I was accused of is ridiculous, but it has been so hard even though I knew I had done nothing wrong.

"When I got the letter telling me I had been cleared me and Irene both broke down and cried, we were that happy. It was better than winning the lottery. "This has been the most stressful time in my life and at my age could have been the death of me. I have never argued as much with Irene in 50 years of marriage as over this last year just because of the stress it has put us both under.

"I never in a million years dreamed anything like this could ever happen to me and I have no idea why this girl would make such accusations. It is unbelievable.

"I am just relieved the nightmare is over, perhaps now I can get back to my normal life and leave all this behind me.

"I don't blame the police so much for arresting me, I am just mystified as to why this girl would accuse me like this."

The couple, who said they had been overwhelmed at the support they had received from friends in the town, said they were now planning to get away for a few days holiday to their favourite seaside resort of Blackpool.

The letter from the CPS said: "I am writing to inform you that a notice has been sent to the crown court discontinuing the following charges against you." The letter then goes on to list the six charges.

It added: "The effect of this letter is that you no longer need to attend court in respect of these charges."

The letter goes on to say that in rare cases a decision to discontinue charges may be reconsidered if a review of the case shows it was wrong.

CPS branch manager for the Blackburn and Burnley area Ian Rushton said: "The charges have been discontinued because of lack of evidence.

"Allegations of historical rape are always difficult to prove and after some checking of the evidence with the police we decided their was insufficient evidence to proceed.

"It is our job to weed out weak cases and that is what we have done.

"We do not routinely inform the alleged victim's family in such cases, that is done by the police, but in this case we shall now be writing to them to inform them of why we have dropped the charges."

A police spokesman confirmed that the charges that had been dropped were the only ones against Mr Williamson and that he had no previous convictions.