A FORMER racecourse owner has “emphatically denied” allegations after being arrested on suspicion of being involved in a £2.4million VAT fraud connected to the horse racing industry.

John Holmes, 63, and his partner Jill Turner, 50, were arrested at his home by HM Revenue and Customs criminal investigators on Monday and questioned in relation to fraud by false representation, cheating the public revenue and money laundering.

A second man, aged 64 was arrested at his home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Holmes, who used to own Great Leighs racecourse, said: ““We emphatically deny we have done anything wrong."

For full story see this week's paper.