A 46-YEAR-old man has been charged following an alleged rape and sexual assault in Mowbray Park, Sunderland on Monday, December 8.

"Syed Ali from the Barnes area of Sunderland has been charged with rape of a female 16-years or over and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl," said a spokeswoman for Northumbria Police tonight.

"He will appear before Sunderland Magistrates' Court at 10am on Monday, December 15."