Pop legend Diana Ross was on her way to New York when she was cautioned by police over an alleged assault on a security officer at Heathrow Airport in London. The 55-year-old singer was detained for nearly five hours before she was allowed to go without being charged. The arrest followed a complaint from a member of the airport's staff that she was assaulted as she attempted a body search on Miss Ross in the security area at Terminal Four.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said police were called by security staff at about 10.30am after a woman security officer complained of an alleged assault. He explained: "The incident took place while the woman was waiting together with other passengers for routine security checks prior to boarding a flight."

It is believed she set off a metal detector before boarding a British Airways Concorde flight to New York, and was angered when a guard tried to search her by hand. The singer is thought to have tried to "frisk" the guard herself before boarding the aircraft. She was then escorted off the flight by police, delaying its departure by 30 minutes.

Miss Ross left Heathrow police station at 3.20pm, and eventually caught the 7pm Concorde flight to New York.

More Info: news.bbc.co.uk