Folk singer Roy Harper is due in court next week after being accused of nine counts of sexual assault involving a young girl.

The 72-year-old will appear at Hereford Magistrates' Court on Monday (November 18) on charges of sexually abusing a girl from the age of 12.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place in Herefordshire between 1975 and 1977. They relate to only one person.

Court summons were issued to the musician from Rossmore, Clonakilty, County Cork, on October 16. He was voluntarily interviewed by police at Heathrow Airport earlier this year on February 22.

Harper has been musically active since 1964 and he has released a number of solo albums, with his last coming in the shape of 2013's 'Man and Myth'.

He also sang lead vocals on Pink Floyd's 'Have a Cigar' and acted as an influence for Led Zeppelin, who penned the song 'Hats Off to (Roy) Harper' in 1970.