Dr Stephen Ward, a London osteopath and friend of Christine Keeler, was arrested in Watford and taken to Marylebone Lane police station.

The arrest comes three days after the resignation of the Secretary of State for War, John Profumo.

He admitted he had lied to parliament after MPs accused him of having a relationship with Miss Keeler, a 21-year-old call girl.

MPs also allege that Miss Keeler had relations with a Russian naval attache and that the affair posed a risk to national security.

Prime Minister Harold Macmillan described the resignation as a "great tragedy".

'Extremely cheerful'

Dr Ward has not been allowed bail but his literary agent, Pelham Pound, said he was "confident" he would be freed after his court appearance scheduled for Monday 13 June.

Mr Pound visited Dr Ward at the police station and described him as "extremely cheerful". He had earlier collected some of Dr Ward's belongings from his Bryanston Mews home in Marylebone.

Last night detectives searched his former flat at Wimpole Mews and took away some items in a brown paper parcel.

Dr Ward has been charged with living on the "earnings of prostitution" at 17 Wimpole Mews since 1 January 1961.

The son of the late Canon Arthur Evelyn Ward, Canon of Rochester Cathedral, Dr Ward has treated such illustrious names as Sir Winston Churchill, Paul Getty, Douglas Fairbanks and Elizabeth Taylor.

He is also an artist and has had members of the Royal Family and politicians sit for him.

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