THE Home Office has agreed to grant Wiltshire Police £1.1m towards the cost of the investigation into allegations that Sir Edward Heath was a pedophile.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire Angus Macpherson said: "I can confirm that the Home Secretary has agreed to provide special grant funding following an application made by me for the associated cost of Operation Conifer.

"The Home Secretary has agreed to fund £1.1m with an expectation that Wiltshire Police make a contribution of 15 per cent of the original application.

"It is clear that the Government continues to make the investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse and protecting vulnerable people a top priority.

"Therefore it has waived the usual rule that the Force should meet the equivalent of one per cent of its budget before the Home Office will assist.”