Strictly star Ricky is released on bail

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ricky Whittle has been released on bail after allegedly running over a photographer in his car.

The Hollyoaks actor was questioned by police on suspicion of assault following the incident in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of Friday.

Ricky, 29, is a favourite to win the BBC's Strictly competition, but the broadcaster has made no comment about whether he will appear on Saturday's show.

The Hollyoaks actor walked into a police station in Merseyside at 5.30am this morning where he was held for questioning.

He had taken a break from training and returned to Liverpool, where Hollyoaks is filmed, to attend a party at the city centre's Parr Street Studios with colleagues from the Channel Four drama.

It is understood that after the party was over he left the venue and headed for his car at around 1.30am.

It is alleged that as Ricky drove off, his vehicle struck the photographer and left him with minor injuries.

Paramedics were called to the scene, on Duke Street, but the photographer, thought to be Steve Farrel, declined immediate treatment.

He later took himself to a hospital where he was treated for minor injuries before being discharged.

A spokeswoman for Lime Pictures, which makes Hollyoaks, said it was a legal matter and it had no comment to make.