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Tim Dowd, 65, was held at his £500,000 home in East Keswick, West Yorkshire

A married Coronation Street director has been arrested on suspicion of trying to groom a 13-year-old girl who turned out to be an uncover police officer in an online sting.

Tim Dowd, 65, was held at his £500,000 home in the pretty village of East Keswick in West Yorkshire, on suspicion of enticing a child into sexual activity.

He is understood to have been sacked from his £100,000 job working for ITV.

A spokesman for the broadcaster told MailOnline: ‘As a police investigation is underway, we are not in a position to comment.’

Mr Dowd has enjoyed a career in television spanning three decades, working for Emmerdale, Casualty and Heartbeat before joining the Street 24 years ago.

His arrest comes just two months after Coronation Street actor Bruno Langley admitted sexually assaulting two women on a night out.

Mr Dowd has directed 200 episodes of the soap since 1994, according to The Sun. He directed both of last night’s shows.

An ITV spokesman told MailOnline: ‘As a police investigation is underway, we are not in a position to comment.’

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: ‘A man was arrested on Friday last week on suspicion of an internet grooming offence.

‘He has been released under investigation and enquiries are ongoing.’

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Mr Dowd (far right) has enjoyed a career in television spanning three decades, working for Emmerdale, Casualty and Heartbeat before joining the Street 24 years ago

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Mr Dowd has been a part of the television company for three decades, working for Emmerdale, Casualty and Heartbeat before joining The Street 24 years ago