A man has been charged after two teenage boys were encouraged to harm themselves as part of a religious ceremony.

Syed Mustafa Zaidi, aged 43 of Station Road in Eccles was charged with child cruelty and is due to appear before magistrates in Manchester this morning.

This charge comes after a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old boy were encouraged to take part in a traditional Ashura ceremony, which involves flagellation, on Saturday 19 January at a community centre in Levenshulme.

Under Islamic law they fell under the legal age limit for such ceremonies. The incident was reported to police and, with co-operation from the local community, officers investigated the report, and arrested Zaidi.