Two people suspected of holding three women as slaves in their south London home had been arrested in the 1970s, it was revealed this afternoon.

A man and a woman, both 67, are currently on police bail after a house in Lambeth was raided at 7.30am yesterday, following claims three women had been held there against their will for 30 years.

Both suspects are not British nationals and are believed to be Asian. One of their bail conditions is not to return to the house.

The alleged victims are a 69-year-old Malaysian woman, a 57-year-old Irish woman, and a 30-year-old British woman who is believed to have been at the house her entire life but it is not known whether she was born in captivity.

Speaking at Scotland Yard today, Commander Steve Rodhouse from the Metropolitan Police Trafficking Unit revealed the suspects are also being investigated for immigration offences.

The case has been described as "unique" by the Met and the entire 37-person specialist unit is working on it.

It was confirmed the women are believed to have been subjected to beatings but there is no evidence of sexual abuse.

None of the women were trafficked into the UK and police said they are not looking for any other victims.

The house in the borough of Lambeth was searched by police for 12 hours yesterday after they arrived at 7.30am. 

During that time officers collected 55 bags of evidence and about 2,500 exhibits which are now being investigated.