People arrested for sex offences should have the right to remain anonymous until they are charged, MPs have said - despite concerns from campaign groups it will discourage victims from coming forward.

Suspects should be named only in a formal way by police if necessary, the Home Affairs Select Committee said, as it called for a "zero tolerance approach" to information being leaked by officers.

The Committee has recommended a 28-day bail limit, with any decision to extend after that period subject to a challenge by a senior officer not involved in the investigation. It added that decisions to re-bail someone should be reviewed by the courts every three months.

But victims' groups say naming suspects can encourage vulnerable witnesses to come forward, and have described the report's findings as "disappointing".

Police forces and prosecutors have previously said publicity around certain arrests - including those of shamed veteran presenters Stuart Hall and Rolf Harris - led to further victims coming forward.

In its report the committee cited the case of broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, who was kept on police bail for 12 months before being told he would not be charged in relation to an allegation of historic sex abuse.

The former Radio 1 DJ, who now presents on BBC radios 2 and 4, told the committee earlier this month that he had forfeited more than £200,000 in lost earnings and legal costs during his year on bail as he had been unable to continue working due to publicity surrounding the allegation.

Reacting to today's report, Mr Gambaccini said a reform of the current bail law would make his experience worthwhile.

He said: "I hope and pray that the recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee will be implemented.

"If thousands of people do not have to endure what I experienced, my year will have been worth it. I am grateful for the attention and hard work of the committee."

One of the report's recommendations is that anyone kept on bail for longer than six months who is subsequently released without charge should be provided with a written explanation from the Crown Prosecution Service to explain its decision.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz, who said Mr Gambaccini should receive a written apology, described the proposed reform as "long overdue".

He said: "The police only need to have reasonable suspicion that an offence has taken place to arrest someone.

"It is unacceptable that, even with little evidence, people can be kept on bail for months on end and then suddenly be told that no further action will be taken against them without providing any information as to why."

Mr Vaz accused police over the "inexcusable" leaking of details of famous suspects, saying Mr Gambaccini had been "left in limbo" during his time on bail.

He said: "Suspects deserve to remain anonymous until charge.

"Police use of the 'flypaper' practice of arresting someone, leaking the details, then endlessly re-bailing them in the vague hope that other people come forward is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

"It is inexcusable that information about suspects is released to the media in an informal, unattributed way.

"We have seen how destructive this can be to a person's livelihood, causing irreparable reputational damage and enormous financial burden. The police must advocate zero tolerance on leaking names of suspects to the press before charge."

Home Secretary Theresa May announced in December she was consulting on a 28-day bail limit in all but exceptional cases, saying that it "cannot be right that people can spend months or even years on pre-charge bail with no oversight".

But the report's findings have been criticised by those concerned about the impacts on victims.

Sarah Green, acting director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: "We are disappointed that the Home Affairs Select Committee is recommending anonymity for those accused of sexual offences.

"We oppose any making of special exceptions for those accused of sexual offences as to other offences. Rape is a known repeat offence, and the police may need the discretion to name a suspect for investigative purposes. Decision-making on this should of course be clear and transparent."

Last year Sir Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions who advised on the decision to charge television veteran Harris in August 2013, said the publicity of Harris's arrest had been vital in encouraging victims to come forward.

He said: ''It's very difficult for victims of sexual abuse to come forward in ordinary circumstances. It's particularly difficult where there is a celebrity involved because very often victims feel they simply are not going to be believed against someone such as Rolf Harris.

''It was exactly the same with Jimmy Savile - very few victims did come forward in that case. They felt they couldn't take Jimmy Savile on, they wouldn't be believed. That's a critical part of this whole case.''