Colin Inglis is being investigated by North Yorkshire Police

North Yorkshire Police has been asked by the Humberside force to look into the claims against Colin Inglis.

They centre on Mr Inglis' time as a social worker at a children's home in Hull in the 1980s.

Mr Inglis, who denies the claims, was the subject of an abuse investigation in 1997, but no charges were brought.

The allegations against Mr Inglis were made by a former children's home resident in The Times newspaper last week.

He alleges that he was sexually abused by Mr Inglis during his time at the home.

The man, who lives in Hull, was interviewed on Tuesday by officers from North Yorkshire Police.

Mr Inglis, who has not been arrested, told the BBC last week that the complaint was the kind of thing any social worker could expect to face.

David Westwood (front) has been backed by Colin Inglis

Humberside Police said in a statement on Tuesday: "As a result of recent press speculation, Humberside Police will now confirm that it has asked North Yorkshire Police to investigate an allegation of historic child abuse.

"In no other investigative circumstances would we consider naming someone who we are investigating and we will not make an exception."

That prompted Mr Inglis to release a statement saying: "My understanding is that North Yorkshire police has been given a narrow and well defined brief to determine whether the individual making recent allegations is saying anything different to comments he made in the 1990s."

Mr Inglis, who is also the leader of Hull City Council, came to national prominence recently when he backed his chief constable David Westwood, who was suspended following the Bichard Inquiry into the Soham murders.

Child abuse victims' support group Phoenix Survivors, which is supporting the man making the allegations, confirmed that he had met senior North Yorkshire officers.

A spokeswoman for the organisation said: "We at Phoenix feel that given that North Yorkshire Police have now confirmed they are investigating these allegations Mr Inglis should now be suspended with immediate effect."