SEVERAL members of a prominent traveller family have been arrested after a police operation into the alleged “clocking” of vehicles.

Five people, including four members of the Welch family, have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud after the lengthy investigation conducted by police in Darlington.

The investigation centred around a number of vehicles sold from a unit at Albert Hill Industrial Estate, in Darlington.

More than 40 cases have been investigated as part of Operation Sledgehammer.

Officers say more than four million miles were wiped from the records of vehicles as part of an alleged scam running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The investigation was carried out in conjunction with Darlington Borough Council’s trading standards department.

Police and trading standards officers acted after claims that high-mileage vehicles were being bought from auctions or leasing companies and then having their mileage artificially reduced to inflate their resale value. In February, a swoop involving more than 100 officers across two counties, led to the arrests being made.

Among those detained was Alfred James Welch, 60, of Burtree Lane, Darlington, and his sons, Alfred Welch, 33, of Scale Hall, Lancaster, and James Robert Welch, 26, of Westgate, Morecambe, Lancashire.

Also arrested was Alfred Welch Sr’s wife and the stepmother to his sons, Marie Welch, of Whinfield Road, Darlington.

A fifth man, Leon Piotrowski, 29, of Scale Hall Lane, Lancaster, was also detained.

All five are due to appear at Darlington Magistrates’ Court later this month.

Detective Sergeant Sean Jackson, of Darlington CID, said: “We had reports coming into Darlington from Elgin to Penzance, this is where people were travelling from.

“We started the investigation in November. There are 138 key witnesses.

“Members of the public have been very helpful.”

Durham Police launched Operation Sledgehammer last April to tackle organised crime gangs across the force area.

Nigel Green, principal trading officer for Darlington Borough Council, said: “This investigation shows the benefit of organisations working together to bring cases to court.”