LONDON (Reuters) - Police forces across Britain have arrested 660 suspected paedophiles during a six-month covert operation to target people accessing indecent images of children online, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Wednesday.

Doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers were among those held in the action which involved 45 police forces around Britain.

The NCA said more than 400 children had been "safeguarded"thanks to the operation.