Police probe blackmail attempt against Tamara Ecclestone

British police said Wednesday they were investigating a suspected attempt to blackmail Tamara Ecclestone, the socialite and daughter of Formula One motor racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The 27-year-old is reported to have contacted police after allegedly receiving threats to reveal details about her personal life.

Police in the upmarket west London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where Tamara's 81-year-old father has bought her a property, are probing the claims.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On Monday, December 5, police on Kensington and Chelsea borough received a complaint regarding an inappropriate communication relating to the release of personal information.

"The allegation was assessed and is now being investigated at this early stage as blackmail."

Police said they were investigating, and added: "No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue."

Tamara is the elder daughter of the motor-racing magnate from his marriage to second wife Slavica, a Croatian model. The couple divorced in 2008.

Tamara recently appeared in a British reality television show, "Billion Dollar Girl", which documented her lavish lifestyle.

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial rights holder who has run the sport for nearly 40 years, appeared as a witness last month in the trial of a German former banker accused of receiving bribes from the motorsport chief.

Ecclestone faces no charges and denies having bribed Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure that Formula One was sold to CVC, the investment firm which owns most of the multi-billion-dollar sport.

During his evidence in the trial in Munich, Ecclestone revealed his wife had spent £12 million ($18.75 million, 14 million euros) on the wedding of his younger daughter, Petra, but that he had only found out after the wedding.