A COUNCIL officer has been arrested and his home searched as part of an investigation into an alleged £300,000 theft.

The probe centres on an allegation that electrical and computer equipment was bought using Blackburn with Darwen Council cash before being sold on.

The authority's director of finance Alan Cotton launched an internal investigation into discrepancies involving a council department, which were spotted by external auditors.

He called in police and the suspect was arrested on suspicion of theft last week. He has been bailed until September 9.

Investigations have centred on lists of items brought from computer wholesalers Javelin Computers, of Greenbank business park, this year, which were crosschecked with equipment at the council.

Det Con Mark Whelan, of Blackburn CID, said: "We have made an arrest in connection with a large-scale theft amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds from the council.

"There has been an allegation from the council whereby someone who is in charge of a budget has bought electrical items for use by the council. He is accused of then selling them on.

"We are still investigating and working in partnership with the council and Javelin Computers and are currently attempting to locate the items.

"The main thrust of our investigation at the moment is recovery of the property."

Deputy council leader Maureen Bateson said: "I can confirm that there has been an investigation, and that the police are involved now.

"We are co-operating with the police and will help them in any way we can.

"The allegations are being taken seriously."

Nasar Sadiq, a partner at Javelin, which supplies dozens of government organisations, said: "We are helping the police and the council on this but we cannot comment further."