A FORMER county cricket star has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

Alan Lilley, 52, from Braintree, is also the former operations manager at Essex County Cricket Club.

He now runs the Essex Cricketers pub in Notley Green, Great Notley.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A 52-year-old man from Braintree, arrested on April 27 on suspicion of a sexual assault at a sports ground in Chelmsford, has been released on police bail until June 8.”

Police would not say when the alleged offence took place.

Last October, he was questioned about allegations of sexual touching and was released without charge.

At the time, Mr Lilley had maintained his innocence.

In March this year, police confirmed they were “reviewing the investigation into allegations of sexual touching at a sports ground in Chelmsford following a new allegation”.

Essex County Cricket Club declined to comment.

Mr Lilley, a former opening batsman, enjoyed a successful playing career for Essex between 1978 and 1990.

He resigned from his £75,000-a-year executive post at the Essex club on October 1 last year because he “wanted a healthier work-life balance”, the club said.

Mr Lilley, born in Ilford, played 120 first-class matches for Essex.