A former EastEnders actor has appeared in court charged with a series of sex offences against four teenage girls.

Joseph Shade, 23, who played Peter Beale in the soap from 1998 to 2004, denied nine counts of sexual abuse when he appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Friday.

Wearing a white shirt, dark tie, grey trousers and with an earring in his left ear, Shade spoke in a high-pitched voice to confirm his identity and deny each count in turn.

The youth worker is accused of sexual offences against four girls aged between 13 and 16, with the alleged offending taking place between 2012 and 2015.

Shade, of Cliff Road, Sheringham, Norfolk, faces eight counts of causing or inciting a person under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust, and one count of sexual activity with a child.

He was remanded on bail and is set to stand trial at Norwich Crown Court on July 31 2017.