Comedian Jim Davidson 'vigorously denies' allegations

Comedian Jim Davidson Credit: Andrew Parsons/PA Wire

The comedian Jim Davidson has released a statement saying he "vigorously denies" allegations made against him following his arrest by police investigating the Jimmy Savile scandal.

His solicitor Henri Brandman said the allegations date back "approximately 25 years" when both of the female complainants were in their mid-twenties.

Mr Davidson, 59, is one of two men arrested on suspicion of sexual offences as part of Operation Yewtree.

Both suspects were released on bail and are due to return to their respective police stations in March, a Metropolitan Police statement said.

ITV News' correspondent Martha Fairlie reports:

Mr Brandman gave a statement on behalf of Jim Davidson saying:

Earlier today, Metropolitan Police arrested two men as part of Operation Yewtree.

Both individuals fall under the strand of the investigation termed 'others' and are not linked to Savile's offences.

The first arrest, of a 53-year-old man, took place at 8am at an address in Hampshire. The second, believed to be Mr Davidson, took place at noon in west London.

Davidson, who founded the British Forces Foundation, holds a scroll bearing the names of the British soldiers killed in the Falklands War Credit: REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian

Police have been searching a house in Hampshire believed to belong to Jim Davidson.

Several men and a woman, who would not confirm whether they were police officers, were seen removing boxes from the property.

Police at a property in Hampshire believed to belong to Jim Davidson Credit: ITV News

According to media reports, Mr Davidson was detained at Heathrow Airport where he arrived this morning ahead of an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.

The show's broadcaster, Channel 5, declined to comment on Mr Davidson's involvement.

Davidson found fame as a stand-up comedian before presenting television favourites including the Generation Game and Big Break.

He founded the British Forces Foundation charity in 1999 to provide entertainment for British troops around the world. In 2001, he was made an OBE for his services to charity.

More than 400 people have come forward with allegatiions against the late TV presenter Jimmy Savile

Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation into allegations against the disgraced television presenter Savile and a number of other high-profile figures.

So far, officers have questioned 10 people including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and PR guru Max Clifford.

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against Savile including 31 allegations of rape.