SPECIALIST police officers swooped on addresses across East Lancashire yesterday as part of an eight month operation into counterfeit currency.

Four men were arrested early yesterday as officers from the major crime unit carried out a series of early morning raids on addresses in Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn.

Three men were later charged with conspiracy to produce counterfeit currency with intent to pass it as genuine.

Francis Jenkins, 46, of Woodhall Road, Liverpool; Mumtaz Khan, 44, of Accrington, and Michael Hartley, 54, of Snowden Avenue, Blackburn, were due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates today .

A fourth man continues to be questioned by police.

Officers seized equipment, including a printing press and plate, which they believe was used in the counterfeit ring, based around the Oswaldtwistle area. They had been working on the investigation, named Operation Oklahoma, since September last year.

They believe they are looking at a counterfeit racket producing in excess of £100,000 counterfeit bank notes.

Teams of officers from the unit arrested the men in the early morning operation in East Lancashire yesterday .

A police spokesman said: "The major crime unit have been running an operation looking into a major counterfeit operation in East Lancashire. The operation itself was centred on the Oswaldtwistle area.

"Following that four men were arrested and three later charged. Police have also seized material that we believe would have been used to produce a large amount of sterling -- in excess of £100,000."

The equipment seized will now form part of the investigation being carried out by the headquarters-based major crimes unit.