A STALKER who sent thousands of obscene letters to famous actresses using post-boxes in the Bolton and Bury area is still being hunted by detectives.

Police are continuing to try and identify the man who has targeted celebrities including ex-Avengers stars Joanna Lumley and Diana Rigg.

The letter writer, whose envelopes bore the Bolton and Bury postmarks, has plagued the stars with explicit mail detailing his sexual fantasies for the past 20 years.

Police arrested a man aged in his 70s from Wigan in April this year, but he was released without charge a month later.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, which is dealing the case said: "The investigation is still on-going and nobody else has been interviewed so far.

"We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to contact us."

The hunt for the stalker began in December last year after a complaint from actress Moira Lister, who was then appearing in a West End Show.

Forensic experts looked at the hundreds of letters and after analysing the handwriting confirmed they had all been written by the same man.

It is thought he has targeted up to 60 famous female people over the past two decades.

Other victims include Dee Dee Wilde, founder of dance group Pans People, Radio Four presenter Sue MacGregor, newsreader Jan Leeming and actresses Susan Hampshire and Felicity Kendal.

Many originally believed they were lone targets and suffered in silence.

A high profile appeal for information was made on the BBC Crimewatch programme.

It is hoped DNA tests carried out may eventually catch the stalker.