A male soap star has been arrested on suspicion of historical child sex offences.

The story was first reported by The Sun's North West editor, who said that the unnamed star was taken in by police following allegations from five men who claimed that he abused them when they were teenagers in the 1990s.

The man was said to be stunned by the allegations when he was arrested at his family home earlier this month, then spending several hours being interviewed by detectives before being released on bail.

A police spokesman said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of historical child sex offences involving five victims.

"Officers investigating allegations relating to the 1990s detained a man.

"He was arrested on suspicion of several sexual offences relating to five men who were teenage boys at the time of the alleged offending.

"He has been conditionally bailed while enquiries continue."