Freddie Starr arrested by police investigating Savile

The comedian Freddie Starr has been arrested in the police inquiry into sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.

Mr Starr, 69, from Warwickshire, was arrested by Operation Yewtree officers on suspicion of sexual offences and has been taken into police custody locally. Police were seen last night removing bags from his home.

He has denied claims he groped a 14-year-old girl in a BBC dressing room in 1974.

Scotland Yard confirmed that officers working on the criminal inquiry into sexual abuse claims had arrested a man in his 60s in connection with the investigation. Police said the individual fell under the strand of the investigation termed "Savile and others".

Mr Starr is the second person to be arrested in connection with the Savile abuse scandal after singer Gary Glitter, 68, was questioned on Sunday. He was bailed to return to the police station in mid-December 2012, pending further inquiries.

Mr Starr has vehemently denied ever sexually assaulting anyone and last week spoke of his willingness to be interviewed by police in order to clear his name.

Detectives have identified more than 300 alleged victims of abuse, who came forward after a documentary was aired about the former BBC presenter, although they have interviewed fewer than half of them.

The alleged victims have been broken down into three categories; those who were abused by Savile, those who were abused by Savile and others and those who were abused by others.

Officers said that Savile had been one of Britain's most prolific paedophiles, targeting the vulnerable at hospitals, the BBC and children's homes. For the most part he operated alone but the force said they were investigating others linked to the presenter, who died last year aged 84.