LONDON: London detectives investigating alleged sex crimes centred on the late BBC television star Jimmy Savile said they had arrested two more men on Wednesday as part of their inquiries.

A 53-year-old man was arrested in Hampshire and a 59-year-old was detained in west London on suspicion of sex offences, police said. Neither were named.

Police have now questioned 10 men since launching "Operation Yewtree" in the wake of revelations about Savile last October.

Last month detectives said Savile was suspected of carrying out an unprecedented number of sex offences including 31 rapes, and almost 600 people have come forward with allegations, mostly dealing with sexual abuse.

Officers are dividing their investigation into three strands: offences allegedly committed alone by Savile, who died last year aged 84, offences committed by him with others and offences committed by others alone.

The latest arrests come under the "others" category, police said. Those already questioned by detectives include publicist Max Clifford, comedian Freddie Starr, and former BBC Radio 1 producer Ted Beston, who worked with Savile.

They all deny any wrongdoing.