The Bishop of Liverpool has resigned following allegations of sexual assault and harassment, heaping more pressure on the Church of England as it seeks to move past the fallout from a separate scandal

A Church of England bishop resigned on Thursday after what he called a "trial by media" over allegations of sexual assault which he has denied, but which have deepened a crisis at the mother church of the Anglican Communion.

One of the allegations came from another bishop, who accused the Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath of sexual harassment. He denies the claims and has insisted: "This is not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability.