Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn claims he has been sacked by the BBC as the corporation prepares for a report into historical sex abuse.

Mr Blackburn, 73, said he was "devastated" and would be taking legal action after having all forms of work with the BBC terminated ahead of the publication of the long-awaited report, called in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

In a lengthy statement, he claimed his sacking related to allegations made by the mother of an underage girl in 1971.

According to the statement, the 15-year-old girl had claimed in a diary entry that she had been seduced by Mr Blackburn and other celebrities. The girl later committed suicide, he said.

Mr Blackburn claimed the report - produced by Dame Janet Smith - made no suggestion of "any misconduct whatsoever with the girl", and added that he denies any wrongdoing.

He said that he believed he had been wrongly sacked because his version of events after the allegations were passed to the BBC did not "tally" with Dame Janet's findings.

He said he felt this was the result of a "cover up" that he had no knowledge of.

Specifically he said this related to interviews the BBC claimed he had conducted with senior figures at the institution in relation to the claims. He says these did not happen in this context.

The BBC has declined to comment.