Twenty-three women from across Sweden have been charged with involvement in what investigators call a unique child pornography case because most of the suspects are female.

A 43-year old man was today charged with having provided them with 510 films and photos of children being exploited in "especially ruthless" manner.

The women, aged between 38 and 70, allegedly met the man online and received and accepted the files he sent them. Seven of them have confessed.

Some of them are also suspected of having spread the material and two of producing child pornographic photographs themselves.

Detective Inspector Bjorn Sellstrom says it is the first time, in both Sweden and the world, that so many women have been involved in such a case.