A FORMER Scottish youth football coach and kit man has been arrested by police in Northern Ireland over allegations of historic child sex abuse.

Jim McCafferty, who previously lived in Wishaw, Lanarkshire but now lives in Belfast, was involved in football in Scotland and Ireland from the 1980s.

He was later charged with with sexual activity with a child and is due before a district judge in Belfast on Thursday morning.

The 71-year-old former kit man at Celtic, Hibernian and Falkirk. was arrested and detained in Belfast by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) after walking into a police station.

It followed an interview that McCafferty, originally from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, gave to the Irish national newspaper. The alleged victims are believed to have been in their mid-teens.

A police spokesperson said: "A 71-year-old male has been arrested by detectives after presenting himself at a station in Belfast.

"He was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences against children in Northern Ireland. He is currently helping police with their enquiries."

Police Scotland were initially unable to say whether they were looking into allegations regarding Mr McCafferty saying it will not discuss further details of any reports made or calls received.

A force spokesman said: "This is a matter for the PSNI as he was arrested by them on matters in their jurisdiction."

A separate Police Scotland spokeswoman has said: “Police in West Lothian have received a report of non-recent sexual abuse and will commence inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this matter.”

Mr McCafferty initially worked for Celtic as a scout, later becoming one of the club's kit men and working with the youth team.

In 1996 he left the Glasgow club suddenly, citing personal reasons.

For several years he worked for other Scottish clubs including Falkirk and Hibs.

In 2005, he left Falkirk FC after a year as a youth football coach citing he was retiring at the end of the season through ill health.

He moved to Northern Ireland about seven years ago.

A spokesman for Hibernian said: "Everyone at the club was shocked to read [what this man said] to a national newspaper about his time in football. He has described activity which has no place in football, other sport or any part of society and which we expect will lead to criminal charges.

"Hibernian will assist the police with their inquiries in every way that we can."

A spokesman for Celtic said: "The club was made aware of serious allegations by a national newspaper, which the club immediately passed to Police Scotland.

"The club understands that those allegations, which relate to a number of Scottish clubs, are under investigation by the police and it would therefore not be appropriate to comment at this time”.

On Tuesday, the PSNI announced it was investigating what are described as "a very small number" of allegations of child sexual abuse related to football clubs in Northern Ireland, although it is not yet clear which clubs are involved.