Sir Cliff Richard has pulled out of a visit to the US Open tennis champ-ionships after finding himself at the centre of a police sex abuse investigation, but a spokesman for the star denied there were any “legal obstacles” preventing him from travelling.

Some reports have speculated the singer could be barred from travelling to the US which has strict entry rules for people who have been arrested or cautioned by police.

But a spokesman for the veteran star, who has not been arrested and has yet to be questioned by police, said: “Sir Cliff decided a number of days ago not to attend this year’s US Open. It is a decision he made on his own accord. Contrary to some reports, there would be no legal obstacles to him entering the US.”

It emerged earlier this week that he turned down the freedom of his adopted Portuguese home city.

Sir Cliff was due to be handed the keys of Albufeira – the city’s highest civic honour – but decided that he should pull out of the ceremony.

The singer’s Berkshire apartment was searched by officers from South Yorkshire and Thames Valley police last week as part of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault on a young boy at a religious event in 1985.

Sir Cliff, who was in Portugal when the search took place, has firmly denied any wrongdoing.

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