Sir Cliff Richard to sue the BBC and police after sex-assault investigation dropped

Singer Sir Cliff Richard is to sue the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after being investigated following sex assault allegations.

Listed as a claimant –and the BBC and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police as defendants – Sir Cliff lodged the papers at London's High Court.

He was the subject of a long-running South Yorkshire Police investigation which centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men.

Officers investigating allegations of historical sex offences were filmed searching his property in Berkshire in 2014, leading to him being publicly named as the subject of the probe.

He was never arrested or charged and his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

After the investigation was brought to a close, Sir Cliff said he was ''thrilled''. He added: ''I have always maintained my innocence, co-operated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point.

''Nevertheless, I am obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close.''