A GIRL accusing Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell of abuse has told cops he raped her when she was SIX, The Sun can reveal.
Le Vell, 46 — Kevin Webster in the soap — is on bail.

The actor was said last night to be "in a state of shock".

But he vowed to clear his name — and to carry on playing the Weatherfield mechanic in the ITV1 soap.

The Sun revealed yesterday that he was left reeling by a series of horrific allegations from the girl, who is now a teenager.

She lodged a complaint on September 29 and Le Vell was arrested on suspicion by detectives the following morning at 8am.

Corrie veteran Le Vell was held for eight hours at a police station near his £750,000 home in Hale, Greater Manchester, in the presence of his lawyer. His alleged victim gave detectives a video-interview.

Bailed
Le Vell was later bailed until November 16 on condition that he does not approach the girl.

The father of two, who has played Kevin for 28 years, said: "I strenuously deny these allegations and will do everything in my power to prove my innocence."

He is currently on holiday and is due to resume filming next week.

TV executives have been keeping in constant touch. Last night one source said: "It's no exaggeration to say he is going through absolute hell. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to him."

A highly-placed Corrie source said: "We spoke to him on Wednesday night and he was in a state of shock. We have been informed that no charges have been brought.

"If that situation changes we will take whatever action we feel is appropriate.

"The fact that he is on holiday this week is coincidence. He will return to the show next week."

Le Vell — who was arrested under his real name Michael Turner — is renowned as a family man. He is married to actress Janette Beverley, a star of 1990s kids' TV show Children's Ward.

He has won a huge army of fans as garage boss Kevin and has more than 21,000 followers on Twitter.

His last tweet was posted on the day the girl lodged her complaint with police and finished with: "I'm lost for words at this moment, talk soon." He has not tweeted since.

A spokeswoman for ITV said: "We are aware an allegation has been made. Given that there is a police investigation under way, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."

Le Vell trained at Oldham Theatre Workshop and first appeared on the Corrie cobbles in 1983, making him one of the Granada show's longest-serving actors.

He endeared himself to Corrie fans, who have followed the character's trials and tribulations, first as Brian Tilsley's apprentice, then through to his stormy marriage to Sally, played by Sally Dynevor.

Recently Kevin fathered a love child in an affair with Molly Dobbs.

Le Vell's niece Jackie Green famously won £10million on the National Lottery in 1996.

Police said: "A 46-year-old man from Hale has been arrested on suspicion of an historic sexual offence.

"The man was arrested at an address in Hale at 8am on Friday, September 30, 2011.

"He has been bailed by police until 16 November 2011, pending further inquiries. The report was made to police on Thursday 29 September 2011."