Five boys charged with raping a girl in Calderdale have appeared in court.

The boys – two aged 13 and three aged 14 – appeared at Calderdale Youth Court in Halifax today and have all been charged.

Police launched the investigation last summer following the victim coming forward alleging the rape attack on the Field Lane Estate in Rastrick – the largest estate in Calderdale.

Two boys aged 12 and 13 were arrested at the time and have been on bail as police enquiries continued.

The victim, a girl under 13, cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Two of the boys are charged with two counts of rape, and the remaining three each with one count of rape. One of them is also alleged to have committed a sexual assault.

All the defendants will next appear at Bradford Crown Court on September 3.