World-famous concert pianist John Briggs, awarded an MBE by the Queen a decade ago, will appear in court next week to face a number of child sex charges.

Briggs, 65, of Little Lane, East Morton, is accused of three historic offences of indecent assault against boys under 16.

He has also been charged with indecently assaulting a man aged 16 or over and committing an act of gross indecency with or towards a boy under the age of 14.

All the offences are alleged to have happened in his home in the early 1990s, and involve two boys under 16 and a male over 16.

The alleged victims cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Briggs pleaded not guilty to all the charges when he appeared before Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court.

He was granted unconditional bail until he makes his first appearance at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, July 30.

The case is set to be heard before a jury at a date to be fixed by a judge.

A professional pianist and composer for more than 40 years, Bingley-born Briggs has toured extensively and played in prestigious venues across the world, including New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the QE2 and even on the edge of the Grand Canyon for a crowd including Hualapai Indians – a concert that required a grand piano to be flown in by helicopter.

In 2011, 20 years after the original concert, he made a repeat performance at the canyon.

He has also played the ancient city of Petra at the request of the Queen of Jordan, and on a South American tour he was given the nickname El Estupendo.

Locally he is also know for his fundraising and community work, including annual Christmas performances in Keighley’s Airedale Centre and charity concerts in Bradford.

During his illustrious career Briggs has been a presenter on Pennine Radio in the 1970s and has released several CDs and performance videos, including his Aspects of Yorkshire video series.

He was named in the Queen’s New Years’ Honours list in 2003 and awarded an MBE for his community work.