THREE of the six men arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity are planning to sue Durham and Cleveland police forces in a joint claim.

Ibrahim Rashid, Walid Zamzam and Salah Famtazi have been seeking legal advice after they were arrested and held for four days under The Terrorism Act 2000.

Mr Rashid, 29, and Mr Famtazi, who are from Darlington, and Mr Zamzam, 29, of Seaton Carew, hope to jointly sue police for wrongful arrest.

They are also hoping to get civil liberties group Liberty to help with the claim.

The men, who were held at secret police stations during their ordeal, are angry at the arrests and the way it has affected themselves and their families.

Mr Zamzam, who runs a takeaway shop, said: "It is definitely going to happen. My business has gone down and I have been suffering from depression because of what has happened.

"We are hoping to make it all one case."

Mr Rachid, of Northgate, Darlington, said: "We are considering joining together and making one claim. We will have to wait and see what the solicitor says."

Another of the arrested men, Omar Mohammed, of Coulby Newham, said the ordeal had had a devastating effect on his family.

His wife, Tina, has been so traumatised by the ordeal that she is considering going to counselling.

He is to meet Teesside Labour MP Ashok Kumar later this week to discuss the arrests.

Mr Mohammed said: " He invited me to go and meet him. He wants to help. I have seen my solicitor who is going to request the custody reports from the police then we will take it from there."

Mousa Mohamad, of Stockton Road, Darlington, has issued a statement categorically denying any involvement in terrorist activity. It said: "I am extremely angry about what has happened, and in particular the effect which this incident has had upon my wife and children, who have been traumatised.

"No evidence whatsoever has been produced to me, for the simple reason that none exists."

Mr Mohamad is consulting legal advisors about what action to take. The sixth man, Majid Mousa, of Middlesbrough, is not seeking legal action.

Neither Durham and Cleveland police would comment but said investigations were continuing.