The Solicitors Regulation Authority has intervened to close down a Yorkshire firm, citing concerns about dishonesty.

The SRA announced it had intervened into Hellewell Pasley & Brewer through its owners Robert Nigel Wiggans and Richard Marcus Whitaker. The intervention effectively closes the 30-strong firm.

The announcement said that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Wiggans in connection with his practice as a solicitor.

There are also reasons to suspect a failure by Wiggans and Whitaker to comply with SRA rules.

The firm, which has four offices in West Yorkshire, could not be contacted today and calls went straight to a recorded message.

According to its website, the firm has been advising people on legal matters since 1937 and offered a range of services to businesses and individuals.

Wiggans was the senior partner of the firm and head of the private client and commercial corporate departments. He had been with the firm for more than 30 years.

Whitaker joined the firm 19 years ago, becoming a partner soon after, and was head of litigation.

Susie Dryden of southern England firm Blake Morgan is named by the SRA as intervening agent.