PATISSERIE PROBE CRITICISED

MAJOR investors in Patisserie Valerie are piling pressure on boss Luke Johnson to hand over control of an internal probe into a £40m black hole in its accounts.

Shareholders are concerned the investigation is not independent enough with Johnson, chairman of the cafe chain’s parent firm Patisserie Holdings, involved.

Invesco has told the entrepreneur to hand over the probe to a law firm or independent investigation firm.

Crisis-hit Patisserie Valerie was saved from collapse earlier this month after Johnson, 56, ( pictured) joined forces with investors to plug the firm with cash. Its shares were frozen after the surprise debt pile and potential fraud were uncovered.

Suspended finance director Chris Marsh, 44, was arrested on suspicion of fraud shortly after. He has since been bailed. Patisserie Valerie declined to comment.