Coronation Street star William Roache was "sticking to his script" when lying that he did not sexually abuse five young girls, a jury has heard.

Roache, 81, who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, is accused of using his fame and popularity to exploit "starstruck" youngsters in the mid 1960s and 1970s.

His trial has heard that the complainants claimed they had been assaulted while at Granada Studios in Manchester, in his car or at properties he owned.

Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said in her closing speech at Preston Crown Court: "Five complainants have made sexual allegations against William Roache." She added: "He is lying or literally all of them are."

Roache, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault involving complainants aged 16 and under. The trial continues.