The head of anti-terrorist operations in Britain has apologised unreservedly to the Conservative Party over claims it had tried to undermine a Whitehall leaks inquiry.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick had accused the Tories of being behind a Sunday newspaper article.

He said he was forced to move his children out of his home amid security fears after the paper published details about his wife's business.

In comments suggesting the Conservatives were behind the article, the senior officer claimed the party and its supporters were "mobilised" against his investigation.

Mr Quick also alleged that the "Tory machinery and their press friends" were opposing the inquiry "in a wholly corrupt way".

But he retracted his remarks after Tory leader David Cameron demanded he withdraw the "completely baseless" allegations.

Mr Quick said: "I have now reflected on the comments I made yesterday at a difficult time for me and my family.

"I wish to make clear that it was not my intention to make any allegations and retract my comments.

"I apologise unreservedly for any offence or embarrassment that I have caused."

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "We accept Assistant Commissioner Quick's unreserved apology and this draws a line under the matter."

As head of the Home Office leaks probe, Mr Quick approved the controversial arrest of Tory frontbencher Damian Green and the raid on his parliamentary office on November 27.

The ensuing row saw opposition MPs make claims of political interference in policing and raise questions about whether officers had abused their powers.

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