The horror of the revelations about Sir Jimmy Savile, and the allegations of sexual abuse made against him, have intensified today with a report that police are intending to question his associates – which include a number of celebrities – in connection with the allegations.

As we reported yesterday, one woman who claims Savile molested her also made accusations against comedian Freddie Starr, and others have alleged that convicted paedophile Gary Glitter – whose real name is Paul Gadd – abused them in Savile’s company.

The Metropolitan police are investigating several allegations of rape and child abuse which date about decades, but a senior officer revealed that the investigation was on a “national scale.”

Commander Peter Spindler, who’s head of Specialist Crime Investigations at Scotland Yard, added, “It’s quite clear from what women are telling us that Savile was a predatory sex offender.”

The police are pursuing 120 lines of inquiry which involve up to 30 victims, with the youngest said to be 13.

Commander Spindler added, “Two of those are rape, six of indecent assault.”

Meanwhile, PM David Cameron branded Savile’s alleged crimes “deeply, deeply troubling” and backed The Sun’s campaign to have the late TV presenter stripped of his knighthood.

It also emerged last night that BBC bosses are preparing a Panorama investigation into the Savile scandal after BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten told a business dinner in Cardiff it was “no excuse” to say “attitudes were different” back in the 60s and 70s.

It’s also been reported that Savile’s family are to remove the DJ’s £4,000 headstone from his grave in Scarborough, North Yorks “out of respect for public opinion”.

The family said in a statement, “We are deeply aware of the impact that the stone remaining there could have on the dignity and sanctity of the cemetery.”