A man arrested on suspicion of fraud following the closure of an east of England letting agency has been released on bail.

The 48-year-old, from the St Neots area of Cambridgeshire, was arrested following the apparent closure last month of Kirby Property Management in Cambourne. The firm also has offices in St Neots and Cambridge.

A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire police told EYE: “We received an Action Fraud referral on behalf of the National Approved Lettings Scheme (NALS) and are investigating allegations of fraud in relation to a business in Barker Close, Hail Weston, St Neots, between January last year and the beginning of July this year.

“A 48-year-old man from the St Neots area has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and has been bailed to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough on October 13.

“As an investigation is under way we are not in a position to go into any further detail.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact the Huntingdonshire CID team via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

A spokesperson for NALS previously told EYE: “We are aware of the sudden closure of Kirby Property Management who were previously part of the National Approved Letting Scheme.

“We would advise any landlords or tenants who have any concerns to speak with Cambridgeshire police in the first instance.

“Landlords may also wish to register their interest with NALS who operate a Client Money Protection scheme and may, in certain circumstances, be able to assist.”

The TDS has confirmed that it has suspended Kirby from its membership and urged tenants who may have deposits protected to make contact with it.