SIX people arrested in connection with the Morecambe Bay cockle disaster could be charged soon.

Detective Sup't Mick Gradwell, who has been leading the inquiry, says the six have all been investigated for criminal offences and are on police bail until early July.

"I have been liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and have provided them with a substantial file of evidence," he told the Citizen this week.

"It is likely that they will have considered the evidence and made a prosecution decision by early July."

But he adds: "There are still 30 officers working on the case and continuing lines of inquiry across England, Europe and Asia.

"The excellent coverage the media has given the investigation team has led to a large response, more than 1,000 witness statements and more than 3,000 exhibits."