A journalist accused of downloading child pornography from the internet has had the charges against him dropped.

Anthony Harris, 42, formerly of Bowden Rise, Seaford, and now living in London Road, Portsmouth, had denied ten offences of making indecent pictures of children.

A trial was due to start at Lewes Crown Court next month.

The prosecution told the court at a hearing yesterday that a decision had been made to offer no evidence against Mr Harris.

Eloise Marshall, prosecuting, said the images were found on a computer Mr Harris had used at work. At the time the images were downloaded, other people had access to the computer.

An investigation showed police were unable to discover whether Mr Harris had sole access at the time the images were downloaded.

Mr Harris did not attend court.

Paul Casey, defending, said: "He has co-operated fully with the inquiry and is glad to draw a line under it."

Mr Harris was accused of committing the offences in March 2002.