A former County Durham archdeacon will appear in court today as part of one of the UK’s biggest investigations into historic sex abuse.

George Granville Gibson, a former Archdeacon of Auckland, has denied eight counts of sexual assaults against two men dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.

Gibson will stand trial at Durham Crown Court accused of eight charges of indecent assault.

The retired cleric was charged in 2014 as part of Operation Seabrook, one of the UK’s largest investigations into historic sex abuse.

He has denied the charges against him.

Gibson held a number of posts with the Church of England before serving as Archdeacon of Auckland.

A number of the charges relate to historical abuse which occurred during Gibson’s role in the Clergy in the Diocese of Durham. The alleged offences took place in the 1970s and 1980s. One charge relates to an alleged indecent assault during a visit to an inmate at Medomsley Detention Centre.

The investigation into Medomsley Detention Centre is ongoing and more than 300 survivors of abuse at Medomlsey Detention Centre have come forward.

The trial is expected to last a number of weeks.