FOUR people arrested on Portland as part of an ongoing child sexual abuse investigation have been released on police bail.

Dorset Police said a 23-year-old woman and three men aged 28, 33 and 60 were arrested in relation to child sex offences after officers carried out warrants in the Fortuneswell area on Monday, December 16.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “A 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

"Three men, aged 28, 33 and 60, were arrested on suspicion of rape of a girl under the age of 13, facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by penetration.

"The 28-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of rape of a boy under the age of 13.”

In an update today (Wednesday, December 18), the police spokesman said: "All four people who were arrested, from Portland, have been released on police bail.

“The investigation is ongoing.”

Police activity was seen on the island on Tuesday, December 17 as searches were made with forensic officers probing the area.

One eyewitness said that police had been in the area "all night, and now forensics today (Tuesday, December 17)."

Another described seeing "a ton" of police and a forensic team inside a house.

Following the arrests, an eyewitness said they saw two scenes of crime vans and police cars at the scene, with a female police officer speaking to householders.