Two computer experts hired by police in Bristol to work on a child pornography investigation have themselves been arrested on suspicion of child porn offences.

Jim Bates, 67, and Chris Magee, 54, assisted Avon and Somerset officers with an ongoing investigation in June, it emerged yesterday.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess indecent images of children earlier this month after their homes and a business address were raided by police.

Both men were questioned at Rugby police station and released on bail pending further inquiries, a police spokesman said.

Bates, from Market Harborough, Leicestershire, has previously appeared in court as an expert witness in a number of child porn cases and works as an adviser to police on computer crime.

In March this year, he was found guilty of making a false written statement tendered in criminal evidence, claiming he had a degree in electronic engineering, and perjury. He was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Magee, from Rugby, Warwickshire, is a director of Warwickshire-based firm Cyber Forensics and has set up and trained forensic departments for police forces in the UK, Europe, US, India, the Cayman Islands and Singapore.

No one was available for comment yesterday at the company.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "Two people have been arrested and remain on bail."

"We carried out two warrants at residential addresses in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, and Rugby, Warwickshire, on September 11."

Shamed pop star Gary Glitter has been banned from travelling to France and Spain under an order made by Ashford magistrates in Kent.

The 64-year-old returned to the UK last month for the first time since fleeing the country after his release from a prison sentence for possessing child pornography imposed in 1999.

Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was living in Wedmore when he admitted 54 charges of creating indecent images described in court as of the "sickest form imaginable".

The court ban prevents Glitter, now believed to be living in Kent, from travelling to the two countries for the next six months.

The registered sex offender must inform court authorities if he plans to be away from his home for more than three days.