The man known as Nick, who sparked Scotland Yard's £2 million Operation Midland into allegations of VIP paedophile abuse, was today seen for the first time fighting back tears in a police interview as he claimed his school friend had been killed in a hit-and-run.

Carl Beech, a father of one, is on trial accused of inventing the "most heinous" false claims of rape, torture and even child murder against dozens of senior public figures, a court heard on Tuesday.

On the opening day of his trial, a video was made public for the first time of the 51-year-old tearfully describing one of the most serious allegations made by Mr Beech.

After the jury watched him give a detailed account of the alleged incident during a police interview in 2014, prosecutors told the jury there was "no supporting evidence whatsoever to support 'Nick's' account".

Mr Beech also accused senior politicians, including Sir Edward Heath, Lord Brittan, Harvey Proctor and Greville Janner of subjecting him and others to appalling abuse for almost a decade.