The news that a BBC presenter paid an undisclosed boy or girl more than £35,000 for sexual images has caused an uproar in Britain.

Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser will hold emergency talks with the director general of the BBC on Sunday after the allegations against the presenter came to light. In a statement, Britain’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport called the allegations “deeply worrying”.

The claims, first reported by the Sun, say the youngster’s family complained to the BBC last May.

The BBC must urgently and sensitively investigate the incident, the ministry said, adding: “As a publicly funded public broadcaster, senior officials have stressed to the BBC that the allegations must be investigated urgently and sensitively, with the [υπουργείο] to stay informed,” the statement said.

In Sunday’s Sun, the youngster’s mother – who the Sun claims was 17 when the payments from the presenter started – said her child had used the money to fund his cocaine addiction. She added that if these payments had continued, her child, now 20, would have “died”.

She also claimed that an image of the presenter in his underwear, which The Sun reported on Saturday, was taken as part of a video call the presenter had with her child.

Having informed the BBC of their concerns on May 19, the family said they were disappointed when the presenter remained in his post and continued his normal work at the BBC.

The Sun is not naming the presenter under the law, nor is the BBC, but says his name will be known soon.

The presenter has reportedly been taken off air pending an investigation, but is said to be known to millions of people. He could face a police investigation into possible crimes that carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, it was revealed last night.