A BEHIND-closed-doors hearing has been held to decide whether a woman accused of making up false rape allegations should be freed from prison.

Eleanor Williams has been remanded in custody since she was arrested on May 21.

Prosecutors have charged the 19-year-old, of Teasdale Road, Walney, with seven counts of perverting the course of justice by making false allegations of rape, trafficking and sexual assaults between 2017 and 2020.

Four of those charges also claim Ms Williams falsified evidence.

The Mail sent a reporter to cover the bail hearing at Preston Crown Court today but the journalist, alongside reporters from national newspapers, was denied access.

Instead, the decision was made to exclude the press and hear it in private.

Following the hearing a family member of Ms Williams posted on social media she had been denied bail.

But The Mail could not verify the outcome with the court before it closed for the night.

Three of the charges relate to one man.

She was previously denied bail at a hearing in June.

Ms Williams is expected to enter her pleas in a hearing at the same court in November.

A provisional trial date of August 2, 2021, has been set. It is estimated to last 10 weeks.