A TEENAGER from Little Lever has been charged in relation to a child sex grooming investigation in Oldham and Rochdale.

Police raided homes in the towns on Monday, November 24, and six men and the teenager have been charged.

All appeared before magistrates in Bury on November 28.

The charges relate to allegations that two girls, aged 13 and 15, were being sexually groomed.

A 16-year-old boy from Little Lever, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

He did not enter a plea and was remanded on bail.

Also charged were Hassan Ali, aged 30, of no fixed abode, who is accused of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and four counts of child abduction.

Bilal Ahmed, aged 26, of Tentercroft, Oldham, has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, four counts of child abduction, sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

Dilon Rasul, aged 23, of Worsley Street, Oldham, Mohammed Suleman, aged 47, of Worsley Street, Oldham, and Robbie Verbruggen, aged 28, of Tentercroft, Oldham, have each been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

Jubair Rahman, 23, of Waterman View, Rochdale, has been charged with engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, child abduction and arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence.

A 29-year-old man initially arrested by police has been released without charge.

All seven will appear at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on December 12.