POLICE in Dorset are now investigating hundreds of men throughout the county as part of an anti-paedophile operation.

Detectives are targeting the suspects after the launch of the world's biggest inquiry into child pornography - Operation Ore.

A list of 7,000 names was given to police across Britain nearly a year ago after a child pornography network with access to 5,700 sites was uncovered in Texas in America.

Suspects were identified by their credit card numbers but county police chiefs are refusing to reveal exactly how many men are under investigation in Dorset, stating it would be harmful to their investigations.

It is believed the number of people on Dorset Police's list runs into hundreds and it is thought arrests have already been made in the county.

Detective Chief Inspector Ivor Graham, head of Dorset Police's Sex Offences Investigation Unit, said releasing the number of suspects on their list would be 'detrimental' to the current investigations.

He said: "Dorset Police is following the Association of Chief Police Officers' and national crime squad guidelines in not disclosing such figures.

"It would be detrimental to the ongoing investigations being carried out by Dorset Police to disclose such details."

But he did confirm officers in Dorset were working through a list of suspects they had been given.

Ch Insp Graham said that the inquiry was continuing with public safety in mind.

He said: "It is important we get on with our inquiries without disruption and I think it would be wrong to say how many people are involved."

Nationally, Operation Ore has targeted suspects including doctors, teachers and police officers and the operation has already netted one high-profile suspect when rock legend Pete Townshend was arrested in London under the Protection of Children Act 1978.

Mr Townshend, the founder member of the rock band The Who, admitted using a credit card to access a child pornography website.

But he has insisted it was for research and the information would be used in a campaign against child abuse.

The first Operation Ore raids took place back in May 2002 and there have been a number of arrests made since then.

But it is believed that hundreds of people are still to be questioned in connection with child pornography.