The leader of an apocalyptic church was arrested at a remote ranch in New Mexico as part on a child sex abuse investigation, police said.

Wayne Bent, 66, the head of the doomsday Lord Our Righteousness Church, was detained after agents arrived at the compound where the leader and his followers are based near Clayton, north-east New Mexico.

New Mexico State Police spokesman Peter Olson said Bent was facing three charges of criminal sexual contact, but did not provide further details.

The arrest comes after three children under the age of 18 were removed from the sect's compound last month following allegations of inappropriate contact involving Bent.

The Lord Our Righteousness Church, also known as the Strong City community, is an offshoot of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church according to reports.

Bent is reported to have preached that the world would end on October 31, 2007, however his followers later denied any such prediction was made.

- AFP