The home of TV weatherman Fred Talbot has been raided by police as part of an investigation into historic sexual abuse, sources said.

The alleged offences relate to sexual abuse in the early 1970s while the victims were pupils at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.

Greater Manchester Police said a number of warrants were executed on December 11 but no arrests have yet been made.

Police sources said three separate complaints about alleged historic abuse had been received.

Talbot, 63, a former biology teacher at the school, is understood to be away from his home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester, and is out of the country.

He is best known for his colourful appearances on the weather map for ITV's This Morning programme when hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan at Liverpool's Albert Dock.

Talbot remains the weatherman on the station's North West regional news programme Granada Reports.

On December 10, he told followers on his Twitter account that he was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean for six days after leaving Madeira.

Six days later, he posted: "Land at last. After six days at sea St Kitts."

Police said their investigation was prompted following media reports of another probe into historic sexual abuse at a Catholic boys' school in Altrincham.

Last month, a 63-year-old former teacher at St Ambrose College in Hale Barns was held on suspicion of indecent assault of an ex-pupil and possession of indecent images dating back to the early 1980s. He was later bailed pending further inquiries.

The offences under investigation at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys did not happen within school grounds but allegedly involved a member of staff at the time, police said.

Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts said: "Following the publicity into the ongoing investigation in St Ambrose RC College, we received other reports of sexual abuse that is alleged to have occurred while the victims were pupils at the grammar school.

"While I must stress that once again these relate to historic allegations, it is incumbent on us to thoroughly and robustly investigate this matter.

"We currently have a dedicated phone line for anyone wanting to report any incidents in relation to these two ongoing but separate investigations and I would urge anyone with any information or who wishes to report any incidents to contact us in absolute confidence."

Talbot, a popular figure with viewers, often visits "interesting holiday destinations" with his camera and the images are then broadcast on Granada, according to his agent's website.

He is said to have made films about his previous travels to Antarctica, Borneo and Timbuktu.

On December 5, he wrote on Twitter: "Well I am in a ship sailing through the Bay of Biscay and it is rather rough. An interesting experience."

His most famous moment came when a streaker swam naked up to the floating weather map during a This Morning show in 1995.

An ITV spokesman said: "Given that there is a police investigation, it would not be appropriate for us to comment."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 7555, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.