A MAN has been charged with counterfeiting following a police investigation into a suspected £50,000 fake bank notes operation.
Detectives who searched a house in Institute Street, Oakenshaw, last summer, have charged a 49-year-old man with 14 offences.
He is due to appear in court next month to answer charges relating to the production, possession and tendering of counterfeit currency Officers from the proactive CID team at Bishop Auckland found equipment and materials used to forge notes when they carried out a number of searches at the house last June and August.
They also found money in various denominations, including English and Scottish 20 notes.
Since then they have been liaising with officials from the Bank of England and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
A spokesman for Durham police said last night: "The fake notes are through to have been tendered throughout the north of England and the Scottish borders and it's estimated the operation in Oakenshaw had been responsible for the production of counterfeit currency worth approximately 50,000."
The man is on bail until Tuesday February 5 when he is due to appear before magistrates at Bishop Auckland.
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