FOUR men have been charged with a murder conspiracy which is allegedly linked to a bid to hire a contract killer.

Mahboob Hussain, 46, of Snow Street, Blackburn, faces the charge for events alleged to have followed his daughter's marriage to a 22-year-old man from Halifax.

A fifth man is in protective police custody.

His three co-accused face identical charges for events alleged to have taken place between January 1 and May 22 and are all from Halifax.

They are Imran Khalil, 26, of Leamington Avenue, Nazar Hussain, 48, of Pear Street, and Mohammed Hanif, 34, of Richmond Road.

The four men were charged after arrests on the MFI car park at Whitebirk industrial estate yesterday as part of an operation codenamed Trenton, involving Lancashire police major crime unit and West Yorkshire Police.

A large amount of cash was recovered during the arrests.

The four men accused of conspiracy to murder were remanded into custody when they appeared before Hyndburn magistrates yesterday.

Hussain spoke through a translator only to confirm his identity.

Magistrates sent the case to Preston Crown Court where all four will appear for a preliminary hearing on June 6.

Solicitors representing the three men from Halifax made bail applications and said they would be denying the charges.

No bail application was made for Hussain.