Dave Lee Travis has told a jury he is not a "sexual predator" but admitted he has a "cuddly nature".

The veteran DJ told London's Southwark Crown Court claims he was a sex pest were "nonsensical".

He also said he would have reported Jimmy Savile to police had he known the television star was a paedophile, but denied the two had ever been close.

And the jury heard he had complained to police he had lost "work, money and health" due to the allegations.

Mr Travis, who is on trial accused of indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another, said: "I do not have a predatory nature with women, I have a cuddly nature. Maybe that's what this is all about, but I am not predatory.

"If I really like somebody I will put my arm around them and I might give them a peck on the cheek, I even do that with men, to make them feel comfortable and welcome to the place."

The 68-year-old said that although "people automatically assume" he must have got on with Savile because they were both in showbusiness, they never really had a conversation.

Answering questions from Stephen Vullo, for the defence, he said: "I, like other people, did think 'he seems to like young girls'. He was always surrounded by girls and by that I mean girls of 16, 17, 18. But I don't think that anyone knew what was going on as far as him being a paedophile.

"In all honesty, if I had known that Jimmy Savile was a paedophile I would have been the first to get him arrested because it is the worst crime in the world as far as I am concerned."

Jurors heard he complained to police last September that he and his wife had "suffered badly" due to the allegations.

Junior prosecutor Teresa Hay said: "Mr Travis said that for 10 months he had lost his money, work, his health, he has had back and knee operations and had suffered stress.

"Worse still his wife had suffered breast cancer. She was through it now but stress is bad for someone who is going through that.

"This was costing him his job, his living and everything he has built up over 50 years."

The trial continues.