Three men of Bangladeshi origin are among eight suspects charged with a total of 34 offences following a long-running investigation into alleged child sexual exploitation in South Wales, according to UK digital news outlet LancsLive.

The charges follow Operation Oak, a police investigation into allegations made by several women who reported being sexually abused as children between 1985 and 1996.

The alleged offences relate to eight victims, all of whom were children at the time, the authorities said.

Police carried out coordinated operations on Jul 14 in Lancashire, Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland.

The CPS subsequently authorised 34 charges, including 17 counts of rape, some involving multiple alleged incidents.

Among those charged is Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, 54, of Edinburgh, who identifies as British Bangladeshi.

He faces eight charges, including two counts of rape of a woman aged 16 or over, one count of indecent assault on a woman over 16, three counts of aiding and abetting the rape of a girl under 16, and two counts of conspiracy to rape a woman aged 16 or over.

Sheikh Mohammed Tahir Ullah, 73, of Newport, who identifies as Asian Bangladeshi, has been charged with one count of rape of a woman aged 16 or over and one count of rape of a girl under 16.

Another suspect of Bangladeshi origin, Aminur Rahman Chowdhury, 58, of Tottenham in London, who identifies as Asian Bangladeshi, has been charged with one count of rape of a woman aged 16 or over.

The remaining defendants, aged between 54 and 73, face charges including rape, indecent assault, conspiracy to rape and offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

All eight men are British citizens and have been bailed to appear before Newport Magistrates' Court on Jul 24, Gwent Police said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck said supporting victims had remained at the heart of the investigation, while CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor Jenny Hopkins urged the public to avoid online commentary that could prejudice the ongoing court proceedings.