A FAMILY doctor will appear in court this morning to face 22 charges relating to alleged sex offences against women and children.

The charges against Dr Syed Amjad Husain include three alleged sex assaults in his consulting rooms in Darlington.

Yesterday, The Northern Echo exclusively revealed that the 29-year-old doctor had been arrested - and at 10.15pm last night he was formally charged at Durham police station.

Dr Husain, who is single, has been employed at the Orchard Court Surgery, near Darlington Memorial Hospital, since August 2001.

Yesterday, he was charged with indecently assaulting a woman in her 30s and, in separate incidents, indecently assaulting two girls.

These three assaults are alleged to have taken place in the consulting rooms of the surgery.

Dr Husain also faces a charge of indecent assault against a 74-year-old woman during a home visit, and 18 charges of making indecent images of girls under 16.

Sixteen of these charges relate to images on a computer and two relate to pictures which police officers allegedly found on a camcorder.

Dr Husain is due to appear at Peterlee Magistrates' Court this morning to face all 22 charges.

Yesterday, more than 6,000 patients at the Orchard Court Surgery were sent letters explaining the situation surrounding the doctor, but health officials admitted some people might not have been contacted. Darlington's public health director, Nonnie Crawford, said it had been "a major logistical exercise" and apologised to patients who had not received notification.

She said that some patients had moved home without informing the surgery and so there was no way of them being contacted.

The medical director and chairman of Darlington Primary Care Trust's (PCT) professional executive committee, Dr Richard Harker, said: "We understand this is a very difficult situation for patients and the practice.

"The doctors and all the practice staff have our complete confidence and we are working closely with them."

Previously, Colin Morris, the chief executive of the PCT, had apologised for any distress caused to the patients by the situation.

He said: "On behalf of the practice and the PCT, I would like to apologise for any distress this may cause to patients."

Anyone with concerns can contact a hotline, staffed by trained health professionals, between 9am and 7pm, on 0845 600 8676.