A family doctor was refused bail when he appeared in court yesterday accused of 22 sex offences.

Dr Syed Amjad Husain, 29, of Darlington, is charged with four counts of indecently assaulting female patients.

He also faces 18 charges of making indecent images of girls under the age of 16.

The smartly-dressed doctor stood impassive in the dock when he appeared before magistrates in Peterlee, County Durham.

Applying for bail, Peter Furness, representing Dr Husain, said members of his family were prepared to offer a £5,000 surety and an address was available for him to stay with a relative 150-miles from Darlington.

But, following lengthy deliberation, the magistrates remanded Dr Husain in custody and the case was adjourned until next Friday.

Two of the indecent assault charges relate to children, one aged nine and the other whose age is unknown.

They are alleged to have been committed on separate occasions in the doctor's consulting room at the Orchard Court surgery in Darlington.

Another of the alleged assaults, relating to a 32-year-old woman, is also said to have taken place at the surgery.

The fourth assault is alleged to have been committed against a 74-year-old woman in her home during a house call.

Sixteen of the charges of making indecent images relate to material on a computer and the other two charges relate to images on a camcorder.

Several members of his family were in the public gallery at the rear of the court.

Dr Husain has been suspended from his job at the surgery, where he has worked since August 2001.

Letters have been sent to more than 6,000 patients at the surgery explaining the situation and a hotline has been set up to answer any concerns.

The number of the hotline, which is staffed by trained health professionals between 9am and 7pm, is 0845-600 8676.