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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Coronation Street star William Roache in rape arrest | Coronation Street star William Roache in rape arrest |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Coronation Street star William Roache has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s. | |
| A man, aged 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is being questioned at a Lancashire Police station, police said. | |
| The offences are alleged to have been committed in Haslingden between April and July 1967, officers said. | The offences are alleged to have been committed in Haslingden between April and July 1967, officers said. |
| Neither Mr Roache, who has played Ken Barlow in the soap since 1960, nor his representatives have commented. | Neither Mr Roache, who has played Ken Barlow in the soap since 1960, nor his representatives have commented. |
| A Coronation Street spokesman said: "Given that a police investigation is under way it would not be appropriate to comment." | A Coronation Street spokesman said: "Given that a police investigation is under way it would not be appropriate to comment." |
| Press pack | |
| A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An 81-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday May 1 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape. | A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An 81-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday May 1 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape. |
| "The man will be interviewed at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day. | |
| "We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity." | |
| Two police officers are stationed by the closed wrought iron gates outside the star's home. | |
| A growing press pack of TV cameras, photographers and reporters have also gathered outside the property. | |
| Mr Roache has an award from Guinness World Records for being the world's longest-serving soap actor, having played Ken Barlow since Coronation Street's first episode. | Mr Roache has an award from Guinness World Records for being the world's longest-serving soap actor, having played Ken Barlow since Coronation Street's first episode. |