A Funeral director has been arrested by police investigating allegations that he faked his own death.
Christopher Westcott owns Durham City-based Cathedral Funeral Services. It is understood that the 37-year-old businessman has been questioned over allegations that he sent a false death certificate to a loan company.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We can confirm a 37-year-old man from the Durham area has been arrested for an offence of attempted evasion of liability by deception."
The spokesman said the man had been released on bail pending further inquiries.
The news comes less than a month after thieves broke into Mr Westcott's Framwellgate Moor workshop and made off with two oak coffins worth £360 each.
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