Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has been arrested on suspicion of rape.

Lancashire Police confirmed today (May 1) that they have arrested an 81-year-old man from Wilmslow.


The alleged incident is said to have involved a 15-year-old girl and to have taken place in 1967.

A Lancashire Police statement read: 'An 81 year old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday, 1st May 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape.

"The man will be interviewed at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day."

The statement continued: "The offences are alleged to have been committed in Haslingden between April and July 1967 and to involve a girl aged 15 years.

"We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity."

Officers have searched the home of Roache, who plays Ken Barlow on the ITV soap.