A Roman Catholic priest has been arrested by detectives investigating the alleged sexual abuse of a boy in the 1970s.

Father Paul Symonds, a curate in Ballymena, Co Antrim, has already been asked to leave his job while the probe into the indecent assault claims is carried out.

The alleged crime was committed against a boy under the age of 16 in the Lancashire area.

Fr Symonds, 65, who used to work in England, was arrested in London by officers from the Metropolitan Police Force's Child Abuse Investigation Team.

He was questioned and bailed to return to a west London police station in February.

The Met is taking the lead on the inquiry as the alleged victim, who is aged in his 40s, now lives in the city.

Last week, one of the most senior Catholic church figures in Northern Ireland, Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor told Fr Symonds's parishioners he was stepping down.

"The safeguarding and welfare of children is the paramount concern for the diocese," he said. "Both the diocese and Father Symonds are co-operating fully with the investigation and the diocese is liaising with the statutory child safeguarding authorities."

"As part of the diocesan safeguarding procedures, Father Symonds was asked to cease from all public ministry pending the outcome of the investigation. He agreed to this," he said.

He said Fr Symonds was entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and added: "In accordance with the diocesan policy of safeguarding, all concerned are offered appropriate support."