Roman Polanski starts house arrest at Swiss ski resort

Roman Polanski began his house arrest on £2.7million bail today as he arrived at his Alpine chalet in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad.

The film director's wife and two children were waiting for him as he arrived by limousine.

Polanski had spent two months in a jail awaiting a decision on whether he will be extradited to the US over a 32-year-old sex case. The Swiss authorities are expected to make a decision within weeks but he could then appeal.

He will wear an electronic tag that will activate if he tries to abscond.

The 76-year-old Chinatown director, was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl after plying her with champagne and a sedative during a modelling shoot in 1977. He was initially charged on six counts - including rape by use of drugs and child molesting - but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl.

He fled in 1978 on the day he was to be sentenced, and has lived in France since then. He holds French and Polish citizenship.

He was arrested after travelling to Zurich on 26 September to pick up a lifetime achievement award.