A group of 27 men and two women have appeared in court today accused of more than 170 charges relating to the rape, sexual exploitation and neglect of 18 children over seven years.

The majority of the defendants arrived and left Kirklees Magistrates' Court with their faces covered and were all escorted by police amid protests outside.

The 27 men are accused of committing historic sex, trafficking and exploitation offences against 18 girls aged between 11 and 17 between 2004 and 2011.

Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 34, of Huddersfield, is accused of 21 counts of rape and 30 other charges including racially aggravated assault and inciting a child into prostitution.

In the dock: Among the 29 in court today was Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 34, pictured, who is accused of 21 counts of rape and 30 other offences

In court: Raj Singh Basran enters Kirklees Magistrates Court at the start of a trial of 29 defendants accused of historic child sexual abuse, neglect and exploitation

Irfan Ahmed leaves Kirklee's Magistrates Court, where he was accused of nine offences including making an indecent image of a child and sexual exploitation

Hamhza Al Saleem, who is charged with three counts including human trafficking, and Mohammad Kammer, who was charged with two offences including rape of a girl under 15 leave court

Zubair Ahmed, who was charged with two offences including raping a girl under the age 15 and Nasarat Hussain was charged with five offences including rape of a girl under 15

Naveeda Habib - one of the few women involved in the case - arrives at Kirklees Magistrates Court while trying to cover her head

The majority of the other men are accused of similar offences including rape, sexual assault, trafficking, sexual exploitation, having or making indecent images of children or the supply of a noxious substance.

Shahnaz Akhtar Malik is also accused of child neglect and appeared in court today

Naveeda Habib, 38, and Shahnaz Malik, 55, are the only female defendants in the case and are accused of child neglect.

District Judge Michael Fanning told the defendants: 'Each of you faces charges that can only be dealt with by a crown court.

To those allowed to leave the court he said: 'You are on bail and must attend court, failure to do so will result in you being placed in custody'.

Today's hearing was split into three to deal with the number of defendants.

Outside court there were protests including former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, who confronted many of the men and women.

M ore than 20 police were on duty outside.

The defendants, who are mainly from Huddersfield but also include men from Dudley, Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester, and Dewsbury, appeared in groups of up to ten during a lengthy court sitting on Wednesday.

Mansoor Akhtar, 25, and Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 34, were remanded in custody. The rest of the defendants were released on bail to appear at Leeds Crown Court next month.

West Yorkshire Police said last month that the 29 arrests were carried out following an investigation which began in late 2013.

Mohammad Azeem arrives at court where he appeared in relation to the sexual exploitation of children

Naveeda Habib, who is accused of child neglect, and Mohammed Saqib Raheel was charged with two offences including trafficking for sexual exploitation

Niaz Ahmed appeared in court today charged with three offences including sexual assault on a female

Zulquarnian Dogar is accused of two offences including sexual touching of a female aged 13 or over - Mohammed Imran Ibar is accused of four offences including arranging the commission of a child sex offence