Worcestershire County Council’s former leader has been arrested following a police investigation into alleged sexual offences.

Your Worcester News exclusively revealed three weeks ago that officers were looking into a complaint made by a woman regarding an alleged historic sexual offence by a man, who your Worcester News understands to be Dr George Lord.

It is not known whether the subsequent arrest is linked to that, any further complaints from other individuals, or complaints of inappropriate sexual behaviour made against Dr Lord by five female members of staff at County Hall.

Dr Lord, aged 78, resigned as leader and a councillor last month as a result of the allegations, which it is understood he denies.

A spokesman for south Worcestershire police told your Worcester News: “Police investigating two complaints regarding sexual offences arrested a man in connection with the incidents on Tuesday. “He was later released on police bail while enquiries continue. No further information will be given at this stage.”

Dr Lord resigned from all council duties and membership of other bodies on Saturday, November 6, following allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

The Conservative party member, who represented the Alvechurch ward at County Hall, was elected to the shadow Worcestershire County Council in May 1997.

He was made leader in 2001 and was re-elected every year from then by full council.

Dr Lord also sat on Bromsgrove District Council on three separate occasions and was chairman of its finance committee in the 1990s.

Most recently, he was appointed vice-chairman of its scrutiny steering board.

Dr Lord first qualified to become a general teacher in 1956. In his early 30s he became a university lecturer but continued with his education, finishing at the age of 56 and acquiring degrees in philosophy, theology and in the social sciences.