POLICE say a senior hospital consultant and his colleague at the heart of investigations into the lost-embryo scandal in Basingstoke are to appear before magistrates on charges of assault, false accounting and obtaining money by deception.

It is believed the case is the first to be brought under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990.

Robert Bates, 46, a consultant gynaecologist from Tadley who was medical director of Basingstoke hospital, has been summonsed to appear on January 24, together with Paul Fielding (pictured), 43, an embryologist from Whitchurch.

Police say Bates is to face six charges of keeping a human embryo without a licence, contrary to the act.

Fielding, who worked with Bates on the fertility programme at Basingstoke hospital and the private Hampshire Clinic at Old Basing, will face eight charges of false accounting and obtaining money by deception and four charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to four women.

Fielding was first arrested after a mix-up over embryos stored at the Hampshire Clinic came to light in September 2000. It was alleged that some of the material was lost, with 39 couples affected from many parts of the South of England.

Gina Lilley, a spokeswoman for North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, confirmed the two men were members of staff who had since been suspended from duty: "The trust has been fully co-operating with the police and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

"As this is clearly a police matter, the trust is unable to make any further comments."