CHILD abuse evidence against former TV weatherman Fred Talbot is “overwhelming and compelling”, a court was told yesterday.

However, jurors in the trial of the ex-teacher were unable to reach a verdict last night and will return to Lanark Sheriff Court today to resume their discussions.

Talbot, 67, is accused of indecently assaulting teenage boys from the Manchester area on school trips to Scotland in the 1970s and 80s.

He is further accused of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a boy, aged 12, on a trip and denies all charges against him.

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown is among those who have given evidence against Talbot during the eight-day trial. Another man appeared via video link from Australia.

Offences are said to have taken place on trips to Moffat and boating excursions on the Caledonian Canal.

Addressing the jury yesterday, fiscal depute Imran Bashir said testimony given by two witnesses was “almost identical”, with others giving accounts with similarities in the times, locations and nature of alleged offences.

“The evidence in this case is overwhelming and compelling.”

Bashir said.

On the questioning faced by the witnesses, he continued: “Why, oh why, would they put themselves through that, on the oath, unless it was true?”

However, Talbot’s lawyer argued the case was not proven beyond reasonable doubt and urged them to acquit his client.

Alan Gravelle, defending, pointed to the significant passage of time since the dates of the alleged offences and said Talbot had been prepared to answer difficult questions in court, stating: “Mr Talbot didn’t have to give evidence in this case but he did.”

Gravelle also said there were “discrepancies” between witnesses and his client, as a young and liberal teacher, had been an “easy target” at the time and was the subject of “Chinese whispers” and “playground sniggers around the school”.

Urging the jury to find Talbot not guilty, Gravelle told them: “This case is not proven beyond reasonable doubt.”

The trial continues.

Talbot, who taught biology before leaving the profession, was a popular figure on ITV daytime show This Morning, where he presented daily reports on a floating weather map in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, he denied having a sexual attraction to pupils, stating: “I was definitely not attracted to them.

“This was 1981 and days like that I might have been interested in a relationship with a local person.”

The court heard he had slept in a tent with pupils on one occasion, but Talbot said this practice was normal at the time.

When asked how he came to spend the night in a mini-bus with boys, he replied: “We did spend the night in tents, but we also spent the night in a mini-bus because we got soaked, because it was so wet.”

The court also heard extracts of Talbot’s diary on the trips including references to having “high hopes” and a suggestion that the teacher had to be careful “not to mess it up”.

However, he said this did not refer to any desire for the youngsters present.

During his appearance, Brown told the court one of his friends had been selected to go to the pub with Talbot during a camping trip with between 12 and 20 pupils, before being asked into the adult’s tent.

When asked what followed by the prosecutor, Brown said the youth had returned “in a state”, claiming that the defendant had attempted to perform a sex act on him.

The singer said: “I’ve never forgotten it, I was shocked.”