POLICE are to question more than 250 witnesses as part of an investigation into a couple charged with running one of Britain's biggest postal scams.

Richard and Alison Alderson are accused of persuading thousands of people into paying out for bogus jobs claims.

The couple, with half-brother Darren Alderson, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud after detectives began an investigation two years ago.

Police say it could take up to 18 months to bring the couple to trial because of the huge number of potential witnesses to interview.

Mr Alderson, 32, and his wife, 34, of Briarhill, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and Darren Alderson, 24, of Rose Heath, Stockton, were questioned after police raided their office, in Chester-le-Street's Ashfield Terrace and premises they used in Mitchell Street, Birtley.

They are charged with fraudulently offering employment subject to a registration or administration fee when there was no intention of providing any such employment.

They appeared for a preliminary hearing at Durham Crown Court last week and will return to the court later in the year, when they will be asked to return a plea