AN Abbots Langley man has been arrested following a nationwide crackdown on child pornography.

Operation ORE was launched in autumn 2001 after authorities in the USA informed the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) that American-based websites selling images of child sex abuse had been visited by British citizens.

The material sold involved children as young as five years old being subjected to sexual abuse.

The websites acted as a window to other sites carrying similar images.

Those wishing to buy images gave details of their credit cards including billing addresses.

These details were checked by credit card companies who gave payment authorisation.

As part of the operation on Monday, a 37-year-old man from Abbots Langley was arrested by officers from the Child Protection Investigation Unit at South Oxhey on suspicion of being in possession of indecent images of children.

Police seized computer equipment from the man's home for examination.

The man has been released on police bail and is due to attend Watford Police Station on Wednesday, August 14.

The arrest was one of two made by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary.

A man from Letchworth was also arrested.

Across the country, 30 police forces, together with the NCIS and the National Crime Squad, were involved in the operation.

A total of 36 individuals were arrested.