DAYTIME Anglia TV star Trisha Goddard has been targeted by a blackmailer threatening to publish fake pornographic pictures on the Internet unless she pays £5,000.

DAYTIME Anglia TV star Trisha Goddard has been targeted by a blackmailer threatening to publish fake pornographic pictures on the Internet unless she pays £5,000.

The ITV chat show host has been forced to increase security at her home following the threats, which are being investigated by police.

A letter sent to the 45-year-old has been sent for forensic tests in a bid to trace the person responsible, said a Norfolk police spokesman.

The blackmailer is also believed to have made security threats to Goddard and Anglia TV, which makes her chat show Trisha, filmed in Norwich.

A spokeswoman for Granada, which owns Anglia, confirmed that Goddard had been the victim of a blackmail attempt, which started in March.

"The police have been working very closely with her and her family on security matters after the blackmail letter was received," she added.

Det Insp Mark Beresford of Norwich CID said: "Detectives have interviewed Ms Goddard regarding an attempt that was made to blackmail her.

"Inquiries are ongoing and the letter sent to Ms Goddard have been sent for forensic examination.

"Offences of this nature are always treated seriously by the police, and are extremely traumatic for the victims. If anybody has any information as to who may be responsible, we would urge them to contact us."

Goddard, who lives in a Norfolk village with husband Peter Gianfrancesco and her children, is said to be traumatised by the threats.

She has presented her chat show, which deals with sensitive issues such as relationship problems, drugs and crime, since 1998 when she replaced Vanessa Feltz, having made her name in Australia as the first black TV host.