Lancashire Police has said it "acted in good faith" after arresting the wrong man on suspicion of historic fraud offences.

Fazal Dad Choudhury, who is in his 80s, was wrongly arrested last month by officers in Lancashire, who had been asked to execute a warrant on behalf of Bedfordshire Police. 

It is believed Mr Choudhury was arrested in a case of mistaken identity after another man, also called Fazal Dad Choudhury, was due to stand trial in Luton on a fraud indictment dating back to 1999.

He was taken to Preston crown court and bailed, but after two trips to Luton Crown Court a fingerprint check was carried out and it was discovered the man who had been arrested was the wrong Fazal Dad Choudhury.

A judge has now written to the Chief Constable of Lancashire Police, Chris Rowley, after officers detained the 88-year-old retired bus driver, who has no previous convictions.

Judge David Farrell KC said he has written to the Chief Constable to ask why an innocent man was detained when a simple fingerprint check would have established the wrong man had been arrested.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We were asked to execute a warrant on behalf of Bedfordshire Police, and we acted in good faith based on information provided.

"We are reviewing the circumstances to understand how this has happened and to see what learning we can take from it. 

"We regret any distress caused."