THE partner of Keith Harding has been bombarded with abusive phone calls and messages following allegations that the late Northleach museum owner was a paedophile.

John Ferris, Mr Harding's civil partner and current owner of The Mechanical Music Museum in Northleach, said ever since the accusations came to light he has been the victim of abusive calls, texts and messages through Facebook.

According to the BBC, Mr Harding – who founded the museum in 1987 – was part of the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) and knew Jimmy Savile.

But Mr Ferris said the only connection his partner had to Savile was the fact he went on his show Jim'll Fix It with one of his music boxes.

"I have had to expunge every reference to Keith on our website," said Mr Ferris, who revealed that he has been suffering with severe depression since the story broke.

"I've had people screaming at me, saying I have to sell my business and send the money to the Jimmy Savile Victims Fund.

"I've got 12 people's likelihoods to look after here and my intention is to keep the business open. Everyone here is innocent. This isn't the Keith we knew."

Mr Harding, who died from bowel cancer in June this year, was convicted of indecent assault against four children aged eight and nine in the late 1950s and was a 'schedule 1' offender, meaning his convictions remained on his police file for life.

Gloucestershire County Council was aware of historic sex offences against children by Keith Harding but had “no power” to stop him running the museum in Northleach.

When the Standard asked if the name of the museum would be changed following the allegations, Mr Ferris said he had already changed it just before Mr Harding died in June.

"The Keith Harding bit has gone because Keith was the sole holder so when he died the business died," Mr Ferris added. "So the business was changed to The Mechanical Music Museum in April."

Despite everything, Mr Ferris said he is still “struggling on” and is determined to keep the business open.

He added: "It's one of the treasures of the country."