A Merseyside mayor has been charged with benefit fraud, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said.
Councillor John Walker, 55, the Labour Mayor of Sefton Borough council, was questioned by DWP officials on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the department said he had been charged with four counts of benefit fraud and was due to appear before Sefton magistrates on Monday.
Mr Walker, from Orrell, represents the Manor Ward and has been mayor since April 2005.