TWO prison officers from East Lancashire are set to appear in court as part of a probe into the theft of £250,000 worth of goods a north-west jail.

Aidan Bligh, 38, and Samantha Bligh, 39, have each been charged by Greater Manchester Police in relation to an inquiry at Forest Bank Prison in Salford.

The pair, both from Billington Avenue, Rawtenstall, are each charged with theft and an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

They will be joined in the dock by Paul Hewitt, 40, of James Street, Radcliffe, and Paul Albertson, 41, of Easton Close, Middleton, who have both charged with the same offences.

All four are set to appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on November 13.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman confirmed the charges relate to the theft of over £250,000 worth of electronic equipment from the Sodexo-run prison. Several other arrests are known to have been made previously connected with the same inquiry.