LIVE Rochdale sex abuse trial updates as seven men found guilty of string of offences against two teenage girls

Seven men have been found guilty of a series of historic sexual offences after two girls were groomed and abused in Rochdale.

The convictions come after a five month trial arising from Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Lytton. Minshull Street Crown Court heard how two girls, teenagers at the time, were raped and abused for years.

Girl A and Girl B bravely gave evidence during the trial, which began at the end of January. Their abusers were mainly either taxi drivers or market stall traders in the town. The girls were 'passed around' for sex by the predators before being discarded.

Mohammed Zahid, 64; Kasir Bashir, 50; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66; Roheez Khan, 39; Mohammed Shahzad, 43; Nisar Hussain, 43; and Naheem Akram, 48, had all denied the charges they faced. The abuse occurred during the mid 2000s in Rochdale.

More soon. Court reporter Andrew Bardsley will bring you the latest from Manchester Crown Court in the live blog below...

Judge Jonathan Seely thanked the jury foreman for 'keeping his cool' in the circumstances.

Prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC is now addressing the judge.

He says the defendants who received not guilty verdicts were acquitted only as part of 'technical decisions' by the jury, due to changes in the law.

He says the sentencing hearing is likely to take up to three days.

All verdicts are unanimous.

Verdicts are expected to be returned in the trial shortly. The jury has been out deliberating for three weeks.

Court has been assembled. The defendants are in the dock and the lawyers are in court.

There are police officers and other people associated with the case in the public gallery.

Girl B is watching the verdicts being taken via video link.

The judge is on the bench and the jury has just entered