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Properties in Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Kent have been searched this morning as part of a police investigation into a complaint by Swansea University.

South Wales Police said the regional crime unit executed "a number of warrants as part of an investigation into alleged bribery offences".

The searches of eight addresses involved officers from South Wales, Dyfed Powys and Kent Police forces.

It follows a complaint from Swansea University to the Serious Fraud Office in late 2018 which was referred to the police.

Last month Tarian, the regional crime unit for southern Wales, covering the police force areas of Gwent, Dyfed-Powys and South Wales, said they were considering a complaint from Swansea University.

Now in a statement it said: "Officers from Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for southern Wales, have this morning executed a number of warrants as part of investigation into alleged bribery offences.

"Addresses in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, and Kent are being searched with the assistance of colleagues from South Wales, Dyfed Powys and Kent police forces.

"The enforcement action was carried out in relation to a complaint made by Swansea University to the Serious Fraud Office in late 2018, which was subsequently referred to police.

"No arrests have been made during the searches, however a number of documents and electronic equipment have been seized. The investigation is complex and remains ongoing."

In a later statement, police confirmed that four properties searched were in the South Wales Police force area, three in Dyfed Powys and one in Kent.

Last week, the university sacked its vice chancellor Richard B Davies and dean of its School of Management, Marc Clement, with immediate effect for gross misconduct.

Both deny any wrongdoing and plan to appeal, after they were dismissed by a independent disciplinary panel, following an in-depth investigation carried out by an employment law QC.

They were suspended last November along with two other members of staff in School of Management in Bjorn Rodde, who subsequently resigned, and Steven Poole.

In a statement Swansea University said: "Swansea University has been cooperating with the authorities since November 2018.

The university made a formal criminal complaint regarding the conduct of a number of individuals, both inside and outside the university, arising from evidence discovered during an internal investigation and a subsequent privileged investigation conducted by the University’s external legal advisers.

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"In accordance with the university’s ordinances, four employees were suspended and the university appointed an external and independent barrister to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged conduct.

"Professor Richard Davies and Professor Marc Clement have since been dismissed with immediate effect, by a disciplinary panel, with a decision pending on a third employee. A fourth employee previously resigned.

"As the university has not completed its disciplinary process, it would not be appropriate for the university to comment further. We continue to cooperate with the authorities in relation to this matter."

Swansea University has also confirmed that it has yet to receive any appeal from Prof Davies or Prof Clement.