A 60-year-old engineer on trial accused of indecently assaulting two young girls told the jury he had no sexual interest in children.

David Midgley was speaking from the witness box at Bradford Crown Court in a case in which he denies a string of allegations dating back more than 15 years.

Midgley, now of Witchfield Court, Shelf, is said to have molested the girls at his Bradford home after buying them clothes, sweets and Alcopops and showing one of them soft-porn movies.

He pleads not guilty to 21 offences, including a charge of rape and accusations of indecent assault, gross indecency with a child and sexual assault.

Rebecca Young, barrister for the Crown, has told the court the older girl was about eight when Midgley began touching her inappropriately and the second alleged victim was five.

Giving evidence in his defence yesterday, Midgley said the girls would visit his home, often with friends.

He agreed that they drank Alcopops but said he had not known they contained alcohol. Midgley said he did not know why the girls had made the accusations.

The trial continues.