A town hall Labour councillor has been charged with making indecent images of children.

Simon Carter, who represents Labour in the Tottington ward for Bury Council, has appeared in court charged with 16 counts of making indecent images of children, police have confirmed.

He has been suspended from the party pending the outcome of the court proceedings as a result, a Labour spokesman confirmed.

The charges he faces follow an investigation by a specialist police child abuse unit in Bury.

Coun Carter, 53, of Rosewood Avenue in Tottington, Bury, appeared before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Saturday.

He was released on bail and is due to make a second appearance at the same court at a later date.

It is understood that the charges cover a period of time between January 1, 2011 and April this year. He was arrested following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team based in Bury.

In a statement, the force confirmed the charges and that Coun Carter had appeared in court.

Greater Manchester Police said: “A man has been charged with making indecent images of children. Simon Carter, 53, of Rosewood Avenue, Tottington, is charged with 16 counts of making indecent images of children. It follows an investigation by the Child Abuse Investigation Team in Bury.”

Coun Carter, who is believed to work as a self-employed IT trainer, was elected to Bury council in 2012, winning the seat from the Tories.

According to the council’s website, his term of office runs until 2016 and he sits on the overview and scrutiny committee, Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor township forum and on the council’s standards committee.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: “We can confirm that a Bury councillor has been charged with making indecent images of children. As the matter is under police jurisdiction, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Labour Party officials have been made aware of the arrest and charges. Coun Carter has had the party whip withdrawn.

A Labour North West spokesman said: “The individual in question has been suspended from the Labour Party pending the outcome of a police investigation.”