TWO solicitors today told how their lives had been shattered by money laundering charges - after the cases against them were dropped.

Richard Farnworth, 48, of Barrowford, and Dermot Woodhead, 44, of Blacko, had the allegations hanging over them for 15 months.

And they said their careers had been shattered by the allegations, made after they were arrested along with six other people as part of Operation Flourish in April last year.

Police said a series of Appeal Court decisions had changed the law regarding money laundering and led to the decision to drop the charges.

But a solicitor representing one of the men said the cases should never have been brought.

Mr Farnworth had been in the process of leaving Farnworth Solicitors and setting up a new practice but said the charges had meant he could not get indemnity insurance.

He had to close down and make 14 people redundant after being accused of procuring the execution of a valuable security and conspiracy to launder money

Mr Woodhead is considering taking legal action after his family was put through a "tortuous ordeal" after he was charged with money laundering and two offences of failure to disclose suspicions of money laundering.

Mr Farnworth said: "I'm relieved it's all over. It's come three months too late for me. It effectively put me out of business and left 14 people without jobs. The timing of it completely floored me.

"I'm a little disillusioned about what's happened and the effect it had on my family. I have always lived locally and went to school locally and had all my local connections and these charges have had a devastating effect.

"I'm fairly unhappy about the way it's been done."

Mr Farnworth added that he would spend the summer deciding what to do next.

Mr Woodhead said: "My family, for whom this has been a tortuous ordeal, have been a tower of strength throughout and from a professional point of view my partners, staff and colleagues have never wavered in their support.

"I have always strenuously maintained my innocence and I am delighted, though not surprised, to have been vindicated. To say I am disappointed in how the case has been handled from start to finish is a gross understatement.

"The manner of the investigation, the conduct of those involved, the cost and above all the inability and or unwillingness of certain individuals to grasp the reality of the situation have all left a deep feeling of unease.

"Myself and my firm will be considering our position carefully over the coming weeks and it is likely that civil action will follow.

"My main focus, however, is on the future. I am looking forward rather than back."

Paul Schofield of Farleys solicitors, who represented Mr Woodhead, said the case should never have been brought.

He said: "He is a fine upstanding person and first class solicitor. That is not only my opinion, but also that of a large number of professional colleagues and others who know him.

"He has conducted himself with dignity and it has been a privilege to represent him. He has had a massive amount of support throughout the case and I know that has helped him to come through an awful experience over many months, which he should not have had to endure."

A police spokesman said: "In the last six months, there have been four Appeal Court decisions, which have significantly changed the law in relation to money laundering.

"The charges in this case have been reviewed in the light of those changes to the law and the Crown Prosecution Service now take the view that it is inappropriate to continue with the charges against Richard Farnworth and Dermot Woodhead."