FIVE people have been charged as part of an investigation into a £1million money-laundering operation.

Lancashire Police's serious and organised crime unit charged the suspects, including a chartered accountant, with offences including smuggling, money laundering and obtaining mortgages by deception.

The move follows an investigation into the alleged use of cash from cigarette and tobacco smuggling to purchase properties in the north west and Spain.

Stuart Murthwaite, 46, and his partner Catherine Gillen, 42, of Beech Grove, Darwen, were charged with evading tax or smuggling contraband into the UK money laundering and a number of offences of obtaining mortgages by deception.

John Hargreaves, 50, of Harwood Bar Caravan Park, Great Harwood, was charged with evading tax, money laundering and one count of obtaining mortgages by deception.

David Richards, 44, of Glendene Park, Clayton-le-Dale, was charged with false accounting and a number of counts of obtaining mortgages by deception.

Karl Jackson, 50, of Preston, who works as a chartered accountant, was charged with false accounting and a series of counts of obtaining mortgages by deception.

One man, of Blackburn, was released without charge.

Sergeant Martin Kane said: "These people have been charged but the matters are still to go through the court process."

The five people will now appear before Preston Magistrates Court on February 27.