A CRIMINAL investigation into an alleged theft of funds by a former employee at a transport firm set up in the wake of the demise of the SSI steel plant could take many months, police say.

Cleveland LGV, based in Middlesbrough, received £10,000 in public funds from the task force set up to support the local community in Redcar after the plant closed in 2015.

It operated successfully until its haulage business went into administration last month with the loss of 25 jobs.

The training side of the company, which also entered administration, was subsequently bought up by a new, independently funded firm, Tees Valley Training.

In December The Northern Echo revealed how thousands of pounds was suspected of having been stolen from Cleveland LGV, with a complaint prompting Cleveland Police to carry out an investigation.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “This is a complex financial investigation. Enquiries will therefore be on going for several months.”