By Nick Miller

A VIP paedophile ring, allegedly involving some British MPs, may be behind the disappearance of a boy in London in 1979.

The son of a former chauffeur to the Australian high commissioner may have been murdered by a VIP paedophile ring in London more than three decades ago, according to shocking claims being investigated by British police.

Martin Allen was 15 when he disappeared on November 5, 1979. His body has never been found.

He lived with his parents on the grounds of the Australian high commission in London – his father was chauffeur to the then high commissioner, Sir Gordon Freeth.

A key witness has come forward to police, with allegations about sexual abuse and murder by a paedophile ring with links to government, spy chiefs and prominent military figures.

The witness said he was abused at a luxury block of flats in Pimlico that was popular with MPs – and he has reportedly given details of three murders.

He said he watched a boy being strangled to death by a Conservative MP.

Another child, he said, was deliberately run over and a third killed in front of a government minister.

Scotland Yard issued an appeal on Thursday to the public for help in tracking down possible suspects, witnesses or victims, relating to new allegations of serious and organised sexual abuse, and the alleged murder of three young boys.

As part of the investigation they have spoken to the Allen's family - though at this stage they cannot be sure there is a connection.

Officers from the Homicide Command began their investigation last month after the new allegations were reported to police.

"The abuse is believed to have taken place over at least a decade, at various locations across London and the Home Counties, including military premises," police said in a media statement.

Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald, who is in charge of the investigation dubbed Operation Midland, said no bodies have been recovered.

He appealed to other young boys, now men, who had been subject to abuse at the hands of the paedophile ring.

"I would ask you to trust me. I will support you, and do everything in my power to find those responsible and bring them to justice. I need your accounts to help me do that," he said.

One witness, known as Nick (not his real name), had told police he was abused from the age of seven until he was 16, from 1975 to 1984.

Nick told police that a car would be sent to collect him and he would be driven to a flat on the Dolphin Square estate.

"At this stage in the investigation, it is not possible to say if Martin's disappearance is linked [to the organised sexual abuse]," Superintendent McDonald said. "However, officers will keep the family updated on the progress of their investigation."

In 2009 Allen's parents made a fresh appeal for information about their son's fate – he was last seen by a friend at King's Cross Station on his way home from school.

Tom and Eileen Allen said they had lost hope of seeing him alive and feared they would die before his body was found.

"We just want to know what happened," Mrs Allen said. "Somebody must know something. Please tell us so we can move on."

Mr Allen, then 85, told UK media he still cried on the anniversary of the day his son disappeared, his birthdays and when he heard music his son loved.

Despite a previous, huge police operation – detectives interviewed 50,000 people, collected 600 statements and ruled out 200 possible subjects – the disappearance was never solved.

The story Alleged victim of VIP paedophile ring Martin Allen lived on grounds of Australian high commission in London first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.