Three more held over nursery abuse

A second woman, a man and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested as part of an investigation into child abuse allegedly committed by a female nursery worker.

Vanessa George, 39, who worked at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth, Devon, has already been charged with sexual assault and making and distributing indecent images of children.

Devon and Cornwall Police revealed that another woman, also 39, was arrested on Wednesday in Nottingham, along with a 21-year-old man and a boy of 17.

All three were arrested on suspicion of making and distributing indecent images of children at an address in Nottingham. They remain in custody at a police station in the city.

Nottinghamshire Police said the latest arrests came after information was received from Greater Manchester Police late last night. Officers were granted a search warrant before carrying out the raid, police added.

Detective Superintendent Michele Slevin, of the Devon and Cornwall force, said: "From our current inquiries, there is nothing to suggest the most recently arrested people have any links to Plymouth or any premises in the city. However, we are still working to establish the exact links that exist between these people and Vanessa George and evidence of the nature of their relationship."

Inquiries in Manchester earlier in the investigation led to the arrest of Colin Blanchard, 38, from Littleborough, near Rochdale. He appeared by video-link from Manchester prison at the city's Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Blanchard is charged with four offences - distributing, making and possessing indecent images of children and the possession of extreme pornographic images. Police said at a press conference last week that they believed some of the photographs were taken at Little Ted's, which was closed after the arrest of George, a mother of two.

Blanchard was remanded in custody to appear on June 23 at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, where his case will then be sent to Plymouth Crown Court to be joined with the case of George.

George has already been remanded in custody charged with several counts of sexual assault and making and distributing indecent images. She will next appear before Plymouth Crown Court on September 21.