One of America's largest "megachurches" has been rocked by a sex scandal which has seen its entire senior leadership team quit.

Willow Creek Church's founder, Bill Hybels, was accused of sexual misconduct several years ago but was privately cleared of wrongdoing by the church elders.

He was forced to step down earlier this year when the historical allegations became public.

Mr Hybels has denied any wrongdoing but said he had become a distraction from the church.

Since then, more women have come forward to claim they were harassed by the church founder.

The new revelations over the weekend led the church's leaders to admit they had failed to handle the claims appropriately.

In a statement, the church elders announced they would all be standing down, saying a "new start" was needed.

“We trusted Bill, and this clouded our judgment,” one elder, Missy Rasmussen, told the congregation.

Church leaders did not move quickly enough to secure Mr Hybels’ electronic devices, she said.

Ms Rasmussen said the church elders had "no reason not to believe" the ten women who have accused the church founder of sexual misconduct.