FOUR men from Minsterworth have been arrested and charged with offences relating to the theft of industrial batteries.

Martin Goodwin, 27, Carl Brazil, 18, Ryan Brazil, 24 and Ronnie Smith, 25, all of Hygrove Lane, have all been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

This follows a joint operation on Wednesday, July 17 at a site in Gloucestershire as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected offences of industrial battery theft.

The operation saw more than 100 British Transport Police and Gloucestershire Constabulary officers execute warrants following months of intelligence gathering by the National Metal Fusion Intelligence Unit and partners.

All four appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 18 and were remanded in custody. They will next appear on Thursday, August 8.

A fifth man, aged 53 and from Gloucestershire, was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and has been released on police bail until Wednesday, September 18 September.