TWO solicitors have been banned from practising and have had their offices closed after legal bosses launched a major investigation into their business.

Hindle Son and Cooper, in Church Street, Darwen, was closed last week by the regulatory arm of the Law Society.

Its partners, Philip Pressler and Pam Higab, will face a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over allegations which have been described as "serious."

They could be struck off when they face the hearing, which will probably be held in London next year.

A spokesman for the Office of Supervision for Solicitors said if the allegations were substantiated the pair could be fined, suspended for either a fixed period or indefinitely, or even struck off.

He added: "We are not able to say what the allegations are at this stage but both the solicitors have been referred to a disciplinary tribunal, which will probably take place next year in London. Until then they can not practise as solicitors.

"On September 19 we intervened and closed the solicitors to protect clients.

"It is a major step to shut down a firm and is not something done lightly.

"The allegations against the solicitors are regarded as serious."

The spokesman added the two solicitors would appear together at the tribunal although could face different outcomes.

He said: "The treatment will be appropriate for the individual concerned."

The decision to shut the firm while investigations continue, happened some months after the allegations came to light.

A wide variety of sources was said to have been used to gather intelligence.

Agents appointed by the Office of Supervision for Solicitors will deal with client's urgent matters while Mr Pressler and Ms Higab are banned from practise.

The spokesman said in such cases it was usual for bank accounts to be frozen and the solicitors involved are informed of the impending closure.

It is not thought the police were involved in this case.

Mr Pressler, of Higher Whittlestonehead Farm, Darwen, has been before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal before.

In May last year he admitted to the tribunal that he failed to inform home loan firms that builders were offering incentives to would-be buyers of new properties.

He was found guilty of "conduct unbefitting" and fined £250. Mr Pressler failed to tell NatWest Home Loans, the Cheshire Building Society and Wesleyan Home Loans Ltd, that builders for a housing development in 1998 were offering mortgage incentives to buyers and promising that they would not have to pay legal fees.

The tribunal was told that although Mr Pressler's failure to inform the three companies was not dishonest or fraud, he had been under duty to tell them the facts. As soon as Mr Pressler heard from the Office of Supervision for Solicitors about what had been discovered by an investigating accountant, he wrote to the lenders filling them in of the full facts.

When contacted about the current investigation Mr Pressler declined to comment Ms Higab could not be contacted.