Rolf Harris to be prosecuted over three further allegations of indecent assault

Some of the new allegations date back 45 years, with one relating to a girl of seven or eight in 1968 or 1969

Rolf Harris is to be prosecuted over three further allegations of indecent assault, including one relating to a girl aged seven or eight years old.

The charges he faces are in addition to the 13 brought against the the 83-year-old in August 2013.

In alleged incidents dating back 45 years, one new case involves a girl of seven or eight years old between 1968 or 1969.

The second new charge relates to a girl of 14 in 1975, while the count of indecent assault against a 19-year-old in 1984 involves the same alleged woman as six of the existing counts.

The allegations against the entertainer were included among those sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) by the Metropolitan Police in August.

They were formally added to the previous charges against Mr Harris following an ongoing review of the case.

Evidence relating to these further counts has already been served to the court and the defence, the CPS said.

The musician, artist and television presenter will now stand charged with 12 counts of indecent assault against four girls and four counts of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.

His lawyer indicated at Westminster Magistrates Court in September that he would plead not guilty to the initial 13 allegations.

It is planned for Mr Harris to attend a plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court, London, on January 14. His trial is set to begin on April 30.

Mr Harris was arrested by officers working on Operation Yewtree, the national investigation launched following abuse claims made against the late entertainer Jimmy Saville.

However, allegations against Mr Harris are not connected to Mr Saville.

Mr Harris is currently on bail on the conditions that he does not contact prosecution witnesses, lives at his home address in Bray and does not spend time with anyone under 18 without being accompanied by someone over 21.

The Australian has lived in Bray, Berkshire for over 50 years, and enjoyed success as a singer. He was also the presenter of the BBC TV programme Animal Hospital and painted a portrait of the Queen in 2005.