Four police forces in Britain have confirmed they are investigating claims of child sex abuse against the former British prime minister Sir Edward Heath.

Jersey Police said Sir Edward was a subject in its investigation into historical child sex abuse allegations on the island after claims were made that he would take children from care homes for a ride in his yacht.

Wiltshire Police has disclosed it has received a number of calls to a helpline it set up appealing for potential victims and witnesses to come forward.

Kent Police has also received a report of a sexual assault having been committed in East Kent in the 1960s by a complainant naming Sir Edward in connection with the allegation. Detectives are making initial inquiries and will get a full account of the complainant's story.

A fourth force, the Metropolitan Police, are also reportedly looking into reported accusations by a 65-year-old, who claimed he had been raped at the age of 12 by Sir Edward.

It has also been claimed the politician was seen by a Met Police detective going into a property in north London where boys were being abused in the 1970s.

The first allegation against Sir Edward emerged on Monday when Wiltshire Police disclosed the force was being investigated for failing to properly handle an apparent allegation made against the politician in the 1990s. 

Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, Sir Edward's former principle private secretary, told Sky News the allegations were "absolute nonsense".

But since then further details of claims have emerged including those on Jersey.

In a statement, Jersey Police said: "Sir Edward Heath does feature as part of Operation Whistle, currently investigating historical allegations of abuse in Jersey."

The force says the allegations of abuse involve 13 "people of public prominence".

Many of the claims centre on the Haut de la Garenne children's home, which closed in 1986 and was said to have been "frequented" by Jimmy Savile, who has been accused of abusing youngsters there.

US Newsweek reporter Leah Goodman has claimed she was told of allegations against Sir Edward on Jersey in 2011 but was then thrown out of the UK for investigating them.

She told Sky News: "(Police officers investigating claims at the children's home) had heard the rumours and I know a few of the senior members of the police believed that (Heath) was at it.

"The yachting culture had long been known for bringing boys and other children out on boats into international waters...murky legalities...it was a place where it was understood people couldn't escape. I know Edward Heath was involved in the yachting culture on the island."

Her disclosure came as it was revealed a 65-year-old man claimed he was raped by the then MP for Bexley at a Mayfair flat in 1961 but was dismissed as a "liar and fantasist" when he reported the alleged assault.

The man says he was picked up by Sir Edward on the A2 in north Kent as he hitched a lift and was taken back to the Park Lane apartment and raped.

Campaigning Labour MP Tom Watson confirmed he had heard allegations against Sir Edward and passed them to police.

He said: "I received information in 2012 concerning allegations of child abuse carried out by Edward Heath and a separate claim concerning Heath was made to me subsequently.

"I passed them both to the police, who have confirmed to me that at least one of those allegations is being investigated and taken seriously."

Mr Watson has called for a central child sex abuse investigation unit for the country to be set up to speed up investigations.

Sir Edward, who was PM for four years in the 1970s, is the highest-profile figure to be named in historical abuse allegations against prominent figures.

The independent inquiry into claims public bodies failed to act or attempted to cover up claims against senior politicians has been told by David Cameron there are no limits to their investigations and officers should "go as high as they like".

The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation said: "We welcome the investigation by Wiltshire Police, which we wholeheartedly believe will clear Sir Edward's name and we will co-operate fully with the police in their inquiries."

Sir Edward, who led the Conservative government between 1970 and 1974, never married and kept his private life under wraps.

He died at his home in Salisbury aged 89 in July 2005.