A retired police officer and four other people have been charged in connection with an alleged fraud of a charity which made dying children's wishes come true, police said today.

An investigation was launched into the Dream Foundation following an anonymous tip-off alleging money had gone missing.

It is understood the inquiry involves around £300,000.

The organisation, which was based in Newcastle upon Tyne, was set up in 1994 and raised tens of thousands of pounds for sick and terminally-ill children.

Stars such as ex-Coronation Street actress Denise Welch and her husband Tim Healy, from the TV show Auf Wiedersehen Pet, backed the charity which helped youngsters travel abroad or meet their heroes. Northumbria Police today said David Foley, 54, and his wife Elaine, 49, had been charged with conspiracy to defraud the charity between January 1994 and December 2000.

Also charged with conspiracy were Joseph Mulcahy, 54, and his fiancee Maureen Lewis, 49, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Mulcahy also faces a charge of deception against the HFC bank on August 30 2000.

A fifth person, 61-year-old Malcolm Greer, was charged with deception against the bank, Northumbria Police said.

Mr Foley, an ex-police constable based in Gateshead, Tyneside, was suspended from duty by Northumbria Police when the investigation was launched.

He retired from the force in May this year after 30 years service. All five are due to appear before Newcastle Magistrates on Friday.