A FORMER detective who helped to expose paedophile Jimmy Savile has claimed police are investigating an alleged case of sexual assault at the presenter's Highland cottage.

Mark Williams-Thomas said officers were looking into at least one claim of abuse at Savile's home in Glencoe, but believe there may be many more.

Mr Williams-Thomas's documentary Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile last year led to the police inquiry that saw hundreds of women come forward to police claiming the star sexually abused them.

He said: "What we know about Savile now is that there are few places he went where he did not abuse people.

"I know of one offence he committed at the house in Glencoe. He certainly took teenage girls to that address and at least one offence took place there."

Strathclyde Police and Northern Constabulary could not confirm yesterday whether they were investigating a claim of abuse.

Savile's Glencoe property, Allt-Na-Reigh, is believed to be an important part of the investigation.

It has remained empty since his death in 2011 and was attacked by vandals at the end of last year.

The claims by Mr Williams-Thomas came as Childline leader Esther Rantzen hit out at the Savile investigation, Operation Yewtree, saying its focus has become blurred and it could deter children from speaking out.

Meanwhile, another letter between Savile and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has emerged.

In the note, Baroness Thatcher thanks Savile for helping to organise children's performers for a party in 1980.

Earlier, messages emerged from Savile to Lady Thatcher, in which he told her how "his" children at Stoke Mandeville Hospital loved her.