Whitegoods repairman William Spedding has been charged with a series of alleged child sex offences dating back to the 1980s, reports say.

Police arrested the 63-year-old man on the NSW mid-north coast on Wednesday, in relation to a series of historical child sex offences.

He was charged with five counts of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 10, and two counts of common assault

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NSW Police said investigators from the homicide squad attended an address at Bonny Hills, near Port Macquarie, about 1:30pm and took Mr Spedding into custody.

He was taken to the Port Macquarie Police Station where he was questioned by police about the alleged sexual assaults in 1987 in Sydney.

Officers from Strike Force Rosann stressed the arrest did not relate to William Tyrrell’s disappearance and investigations into that matter were continuing.

Mr Spedding has denied any involvement in William’s disappearance from his grandmother’s home on Benaroon Drive at Kendall, on the NSW mid-north coast, in September last year.

Mr Spedding’s home and business was searched in January as part of the investigation.

The septic tank on the tradesman’s home was also drained and police seized a number of items from his home.

They also searched his pawn shop at Laurieton, where they seized items.

Last week police said they were also investigating the possible involvement of a paedophile ring in William’s disappearance.

“We have information that we’ve received in relation to a paedophile ring that may be operating,” Detective Superintendent Michael Willing said.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.