500 Savile victims

More than 500 people have come forward as victims of the late Leeds-born DJ and television presenter Jimmy Savile, police have said.

More than 200 allegations of sexual assault have been recorded, Scotland Yard said, with a report into child sex crimes by Savile, who died in October last year at the age of 84, due to be published early in the New Year.

The report draws on the testimony of scores of victims and "will provide as clear a picture as possible" of Savile's offending, a force spokesman said.

Savile is now believed to have been one of the UK's most prolific abusers. It is alleged the TV star abused young people on BBC premises, in hospitals, care homes and at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.

Seven people, including celebrity publicist Max Clifford, have been questioned in connection with Operation Yewtree, which involves a team of 30 officers and has already cost around £2 million.

Officers are looking at three strands within their inquiry: claims against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others, with the report covering the first of those strands.