A MAN today told of his "five months of hell" after multiple rape charges against him were dropped.

Mark Walsh, 26, was due to face six allegations of rape at Burnley Crown Court but saw the case thrown out after the prosecution offered no evidence.

Mr Walsh, of York Street, Church, said the experience had been a "nightmare" and had put so much pressure on him and his family that he had to move two of his children from their school.

He said: "The last five months have been awful for me and my family.

"I have had people driving past me in the street and shouting 'rapist' out of their car windows."

He had been accused by a 14-year-old girl from Colne of the offences, which were said to date back to a four-month period between April 1 and June 30 2004.

Mr Walsh was arrested at his home in June before being charged initially, with three counts of rape.

He said: "I don't have any idea why these allegations were made against me but they were totally untrue and I knew that the truth would come out.

I'm just glad it is all over and we can try to forget all about it."

Mr Walsh, who is registered disabled after he suffered a serious arm injury in his childhood, lives with his partner, Lisa Mullan, 19, and his three children aged six, four and seven months.

When he was arrested Mr Walsh had to spend a night in the cells at Burnley police station before he was released on bail.

He said: "When they told me that I had been accused of rape I just laughed because I didn't know what to do. I was shocked and so was my family.

"Everyone in the area knew I had been charged and now I want everyone to know that there was no truth in the allegations.

"It is definitely a relief now to know it is over and I can get on with my life."

Ian Rushton, the district crown prosecutor, said the case had been dropped after the CPS received "extra information".

He said: "In the last few weeks extra information about this case came through to us. This information undermined our chances of getting a conviction and it was because of this that we were not confident that we had a realistic chance of the prosecution succeeding.

"It was discussed with the police and a joint decision was made to drop the case."