TWO North East solicitors have been charged with the theft of more than £1m from clients.

Barbara Gayton, 52, of Broadwell Court, Newcastle, and Kenneth Hunt, 64, of Alnwick in Northumberland, have been jointly charged with theft from clients of Hunt Kidd Solicitors in Newcastle.

The charges come following an investigation by Northumbria Police’s Economic Crime Unit.

The pair are due to appear before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on January 31.

The prominent North East law firm was closed down by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) in November 2009 after an investigation was launched into “suspected financial irregularities” involving two of its senior partners.

Speaking at the time of the investigation, an SRA spokesperson said: “The Solicitors Regulatory Authority have intervened into the practice of Hunt Kidd Law LLP on November 9 on the grounds of suspected financial irregularities on the part of Kenneth Hunt and Barbara Gayton.

“The practising certificates of both Mr Hunt and Mrs Gayton have been suspended with immediate effect.”

If the pair are found to have broken professional regulations, it is understood they could ultimately be struck off.

Throughout his legal career – which began in 1969 – Kenneth Hunt has fashioned a name for himself as an expert in property development issues.

Barbara Gayton is head of the company’s employment department which specialises predominantly in claimant work, offering advice to individuals in connection with all aspects of the law related to their employment rights. She joined Hunt Kidd in 1995 and became a partner in 1996.

Hunt Kidd, which was based on Newcastle’s Pilgrim Street, assisted Closegate Projects Limited on the redevelopment of the Haymarket Metro station.

The company specialised in commercial development, residential property, employment law, property investment and landlord and tenant issues.