Sir Cliff Richard sues BBC and police over live raid on his house

Singer Sir Cliff Richard has launched legal action against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after being investigated following sex assault allegations.

Sir Cliff was the subject of a long-running South Yorkshire Police investigation which centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men.

Officers investigating allegations of historical sex offences were filmed searching his apartment in Berkshire in 2014, leading to him being publicly named as the subject of the probe.

He was never arrested or charged and his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in June on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Police and media outside Sir Cliff's apartment block in Berkshire in 2014 Credit: PA

Papers have been lodged at the High Court in London.

They give little detail but show that he has sued the BBC and South Yorkshire Police.

Sir Cliff is listed as a claimant and the BBC and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police as defendants.

The papers were filed on Thursday.