Jewish filmmakers and artists have spoken out against the arrest of Rosemary's Baby director Roman Polanski.

Woody Allen, actor Wim Wenders and British director Stephen Frears are among the 138 Hollywood names who have signed a petition pledging to fight Mr Polanski’s extradition to the US.

Mr Polanski, who is a Holocaust survivor, has not returned to the US since pleading guilty to drugging and raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977. He currently resides in France where he holds citizenship.

He did not even return to the US to collect the Oscar for ‘Best Director’ which he won for The Pianist in 2003.

Mr Polanski was on his way to the Zurich Film Festival to collect a lifetime achievement award when he was arrested by Swiss police.