The home of Cliff Richard has been searched in relation to an alleged historical sex offence. Various items were removed for further investigation though the singer was not arrested. A police spokesman said the allegation involved a boy under 16 and dated back to the South Yorkshire area in the 1980s. 

Cliff RichardSir Cliff Richard's house was searched on Thursday

The search at the home in the Sunningdale area is not connected to Operation Yewtree though officers from that operation - set up in the wake of Jimmy Savile sandal - have been notified, according to BBC News.

Sir Cliff, born Harry Webb, is one of the most successful British musicians of all time having sold 21.5 million singles. He is the only performer to have had at least one UK top five album in each of the last seven decades. He was knighted in 1995 and performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2012.

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In June, the entertainer Rolf Harris was found guilty of twelve charges of indecent assault between 1969 and 1986 on four victims. He was sentenced to a total of five years and nine months in prison. Harris was stripped of many of the honours which he had been awarded throughout his career, for services to entertainment, art and charity. 

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