TWO solicitors at a leading Bradford law firm, including a senior partner, and a third employee are facing fraud charges after a long-running investigation by West Yorkshire Police.

Mohammed Ayub, 53, senior partner with Chambers Solicitors in Grattan Road, and Neil Frew, 47, a solicitor who works as immigration department associate with the firm, are accused of conspiracy to defraud.

Ayub's brother Mohammed Riaz, 47, who works in the translation side of the company's business, has been summonsed to appear in court in relation to the matter.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Ayub and Frew had been charged with conspiracy to defraud.

They are understood to have been charged after answering their bail at a police station.

The allegations relate to the defrauding of the Legal Aid Agency over payments for the provision of interpretation services.

Chambers has vehemently denied any criminality.

The charges follow police raids on the firm's offices in the centre of Bradford in July last year.

The investigation was carried out by West Yorkshire Police's Economic Crime Unit, whose officers worked alongside Bradford CID and Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

At the time the force said it was a pre-planned operation during an ongoing inquiry into an alleged fraud.

Two men were held in police custody for questioning following the raid.

Last night, a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police have charged two men with conspiracy to defraud regarding past financial matters at Chambers Solicitors in Bradford.

"Neil Frew, aged 47, of Hoyle Court Drive, Shipley, and Mohammed Ayub, aged 53 of Aireville Drive, Shipley, have been released on bail to attend court at a future date.

"A third man, aged 47, of Manningham, has also been summonsed to appear at court in relation to the above charge.

"The charges relate to financial matters at the company between October 2010 and March 2013."

A statement issued by Chambers Solicitors said: "The allegation of criminality is entirely denied and the firm is confident the courts will resolve the matter in our favour."

The company said the allegation stemmed from a contractual dispute between the firm and the Legal Aid Agency. It claimed the CPS decision to charge was "fundamentally flawed" based on a misunderstanding of the law of contract and criminal law.

In a separate investigation, police in Manchester have now asked the CPS to decide whether to prosecute two senior solicitors at Chambers after allegations were made they leaked confidential information following a child sexual exploitation case.

Former MP Louise Mensch made a complaint to the Greater Manchester force asking it to investigate her claims that Alias Yousaf and another unnamed lawyer from the firm shared the names and ordeals of victims of a child sex ring.

The solicitors deny any wrongdoing and say the claims are malicious.

A GMP spokesman said: "We have prepared a file and passed it on to the CPS for a decision to be made."

Chambers Solicitors was established in 2003. On its website it says it has taken on many 'David and Goliath' legal struggles for justice, and says its lawyers are "given freedom to pursue difficult or unpopular cases that push the boundaries of the law."