AN 18-year-old has appeared in court accused of raping a 17-year-old girl and assaulting two of her friends.

Luke Patten, of Bridle Road, Eastham, is charged with two counts of rape and two of assault following an incident in Eastham on Sunday morning.

He appeared at Wirral magistrates court on Tuesday morning where he spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Bail was refused, with Patten remanded in custody until his next appearance at Liverpool Crown Court on April 14.

Police were called to the junction of Raeburn Avenue and Elgar Avenue at around 4.30am on Sunday after reports that a man had been assaulted.

On arrival, officers found three males – aged 17, 18 and 19 – with facial and head injuries.

They also found a 17-year-old girl who had been subjected to a serious sexual assault.

All four received medical treatment, with the girl also receiving on-going support from the police's specialist Unity Team.

The group of friends had been socialising in the area that night and are thought to have been attacked by the same man as they walked home.

A search and enquiries were undertaken in the local area resulting in an 18-year-old man being arrested in connection with the incident.

The scene was cordoned off for examination and house-to-house enquiries carried out.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hampson said: “I would like to reassure the local community that incidents like this are thankfully very rare and neighbourhood officers will be patrolling this area."

Anyone with information should call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 3294 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.