The unnamed suspect, who was 38 at the time, was arrested on suspicion of taking indecent photos of young girls at a bus station in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 13 August 2012.

He was due to answer bail yesterday.

However, West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels today told Amateur Photographer (AP): ‘There has been an extension to bail. It has been put back while enquiries continue.’

The man is now due to answer bail towards the end of October, said Ewels.

Police have previously refused to explain why the man has been repeatedly rebailed, and rejected a Freedom of Information request lodged by AP on grounds that any information released would breach data protection laws.

It is possible, for example, that the suspect was ill, or out of the country, and unable to answer bail yesterday.

However, the force has made it clear to AP that ‘enquiries are ongoing’.

At the time of his arrest, police said he had been seen taking pictures of the children using a mobile phone.

A member of the public initially reported the man to security staff at the bus station.

Earlier this year, The Law Society called for a ‘28-day limit’ on police bail, after figures obtained by the BBC showed that more than 57,000 people were on bail in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Speaking in general terms, the Law Society told AP that ‘unduly onerous’ bail conditions and excessive bail periods are not in the interests of civil liberties or justice for victims and suspects.