Police are remaining tight-lipped over whether an elderly man who was allegedly sexually assaulted in a church-run nursing home has since died.

Detectives are investigating the incident at the Matilda Smith Williams home, in Devonshire, and have confirmed that they have arrested a man, who was later released on bail.

But force spokesman Robin Simmons would not comment on reports that the pensioner had since passed away. He said he did not believe the nature of the police investigation had changed.

?I can?t really say anything about it at the moment,? he said. ?There is an investigation going on still.? Of the man who was arrested - believed to be a male orderly at the home - he said: ?I don?t know whether they are going to appear before the court. I can?t confirm that to you.?

Attempts by to contact the chairman of the home?s governing board, Thelma Trott, for the past week and a half have proved unsuccessful.

But the Reverend Malcolm Eve, presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Churches, which runs the home, said he was aware of the alleged incident and of the fact that the elderly man had subsequently died.

He said last night: ?A statement will come from the home. A statement will be issued shortly and that you?ll have in 24 hours. It will be put out by somebody from the board. That?s all I?m at liberty to say.? Mr. Simmons said in a statement last week that the alleged victim of the sexual assault was an 80-year-old man.

Health Minister Patrice Minors said yesterday she had been made aware of the incident. ?It is a police matter and they are carrying out their investigation so there is nothing I?m prepared to comment on or have the authority to comment on.

?I have been made aware of it like everybody else having seen more about it on the news. I was made aware of it through another source through government.?

She said the Ministry of Health would be guided by Police as to whether it needed to become involved.