The BBC has suspended a Panorama employee and shelved an episode of the programme after a producer was accused of trying to bribe a security consultant for information.

The episode of the flagship programme was due to air on Monday and was described by The Radio Times as "an investigation into financial scandals that could wipe out people's life savings, including a £250 million Caribbean rental-home development scheme".

The programme looked into the activities of Harlequin, a developer of Caribbean luxury homes, but BBC executives decided to pull it last Thursday after the firm complained, The Times reported.