The charity regulator for England and Wales has launched a statutory inquiry into a charity that supports persecuted Christians.

The Charity Commission said it had identified several "serious concerns" regarding the compliance of Barnabas Aid - also called Barnabas Fund - with charity law and its use of charitable funds.

The inquiry will investigate allegations of unauthorised payments to current and former trustees, as well as to related parties.

In addition to considering concerns around spending records and "possible unmanaged conflicts of interest", the inquiry will also "explore the influence of non-leaders on decision-making".

Other areas to be taken into consideration are allegations that the charity's founders may exert inappropriate control or influence over its operations, and questions as to whether its current structure and relationship with a US subsidiary called Nexus are "in the best interests of the charity". 

The inquiry was launched last month but only formally announced today. The Commission had earlier opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity but escalated it to an inquiry due to the concerns.

As part of its investigation, the Charity Commission has temporarily restricted Barnabas Fund's ability to make transactions over £4,000. It said the measure had been put in place "to protect the charity's significant income and assets", which the Commission said amounted to more than £21 million.