Posthumously exposed paedophile Cyril Smith was a visitor to Elm Guest House in Barnes, which is the centre of a police investigation into historical allegations of abuse, a new book into his life has claimed.

The former MP for Rochdale, who died in 2010, hit the headlines again this week as fresh claims surfaced that his abusive activities towards young boys were covered up.

He visited the guest house in Rocks Lane, Barnes, which was advertised as a place for gay men to have parties, but it was later alleged to be at the centre of a VIP paedophile ring.

Paedophiles from all over the country would attend parties there and boys were sexually abused, it has been alleged.

It has been claimed senior aides in Government and top politicians attended the parties and abused children, which was then allegedly covered up.

The house was raided in 1982 and its owners, Harry and Carole Kasir, were convicted of running a brothel.

This week deputy prime minister Nick Clegg denied any knowledge of Smith’s activities and said his party would not hold an inquiry into the allegations.

Labour MP Simon Danzcuk, who now sits in Rochdale, claimed Smith was part of a high-level paedophile ring operating at Westminster in the 1970s.

In a new book he alleges Smith used his influence to cover up the abuse.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the MP was part of an “informal” network of sex abusers.

He said Smith was a visitor to Elm Guest House and claimed this was where it is alleged other significant paedophiles went.