A MAN was arrested near the Ramsbottom border in Rossendale as part of a major national Internet paedophile operation.

Officers from 30 police forces across Britain together with the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad launched a major operation against individuals suspected of purchasing paedophile material on the web yesterday.

The 42-year-old man, who has not been named by police was in custody today awaiting interview. Property has been seized from his home.

The operation, code-named Ore, began in Autumn 2001 when authorities in the United States informed NCIS that US-based websites selling images of the sexual abuse of children as young as five years old had been visited by British citizens.

Carole Howlett, Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesperson on combating child abuse on the Internet and Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said: "The arrests have been a national response to a growing problem. There is also evidence that a significant proportion of people involved in child abuse on-line are themselves actual abusers.

"We now need to combat these crimes by building on the expertise which exists in forces and in national agencies.

"This means the development of a co-ordinated, structured effort working with government, law enforcement agencies in other countries."