Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson is among 12 people charged with bribery and misconduct following a long-running investigation into the award of building contracts in the city.

Those charged also include the directors of a Liverpool based building contractor.

Operation Aloft by Merseyside Policehas focused on contracts awarded by Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.

Those charged are:

• David Anderson, 37 years, of Wavertree, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office
• Joseph Anderson, 67 years, of Knotty Ash, charged with one count of Bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office – former Mayor of Liverpool
• Andrew Barr, 51 years, of Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery – former Assistant Director at Liverpool City Council
• Phillipa Cook, 49 years of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery
• Alex Croft, 29 years, of Aughton, Lancashire, charged with one count of bribery
• Julian Flanagan, 53 years, of Crosby charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
• Paul Flanagan 61 years, of Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
• Derek Hatton, 77 years, of Aigburth, charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office
• Sonjia Hatton, 49 years, of Aigburth, charged with one count of misconduct in a public office
• Nicholas Kavanagh, 56 years, of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery – former Director at Liverpool City Council
• Adam McLean, 54 years, of  Woolton, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
• James Shalliker, 38 years of Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery

All those charged will appear at Preston Magistrates Court on Friday March 28.