Two men arrested in Bradford and Leeds in connection with allegations of supplying drugs to former Co-operative Bank boss and Methodist minister Paul Flowers have been released on bail .

West Yorkshire Police said the suspects, aged 26 and 34, were detained at addresses in Thornton and Armley.

In a statement today, a force spokesman said: “The 26-year-old was arrested at an address in the Thornton area of Bradford and the 34-year-old detained at an address in the Armley area of Leeds.

“Two men arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of drugs supply offences made in a national newspaper have been released on bail.

“The men have been bailed to a date in the new year while enquiries continue."

Mr Flowers, 63, was arrested last week in the Liverpool area in connection with the same inquiry and later released on bail.

He was released from a police station in Leeds on Friday - the same day that an independent investigation into the near collapse of the Co-op Bank was announced.

The Methodist minister stepped down as the bank's chairman in June and questions have since been asked about his competence in the role amid claims of illegal drug use, inappropriate expenses and pornographic material found on a Bradford Council computer.

He was suspended by both the Methodist Church and the Labour Party following allegations that he bought and used illegal drugs. It also emerged that he quit as a Labour councillor for the Great Horton ward in Bradford in 2011 after porn was found on his computer, although at the time he claimed he was leaving due to pressure of work.