AN ELDERLY man arrested by detectives hunting a mystery celebrity stalker who writes pornographic letters to his female victims has been released on bail.

The 70-year-old was interviewed at a police station in Wigan yesterday after being arrested in the morning at his home in Wigan.

The swoop came when detectives received information following an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch UK programme.

The stalker being hunted has written hundreds of letters to stars including Dame Diana Rigg and Felicity Kendal over the past 20 years.

The investigation has been focusing on the North-west after the majority of the letters had been sent in airmail envelopes with postmarks from Wigan, Bolton, Bury and Manchester.

The man was initially detained on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and was later released on bail pending further inquiries. He will return to the same police station on June 12, Scotland Yard said.

Police refused to name the suspect or confirm speculation he had been involved in the theatre business in the past.

The hunt for the stalker began in December last year after a complaint from actress Moira Lister, who was then appearing in a West End Show. Since then it emerged up to 60 women may have been targeted over the past two decades.

Victims included former newsreader Jan Leeming, Avengers actress Dame Diana Rigg, Felicity Kendal, Susan Hampshire, former Tory Cabinet minister Virginia Bottomley and Anne Heseltine, wife of former Deputy Prime Minister Michael. Many originally believed they were lone targets.

The letters have been examined by document expert Keir Hartley of the Forensic Science Service. It is hoped DNA tests carried out on the letters will help to identify the stalker.