An inquiry has been launched into a Christian charity after it failed to file its accounts.

The Charity Commission has opened the inquiry into the Barnet-based Redeemed Christian Church of God New Life Assembly after it failed to submit its annual accounts and returns for the last financial year, due last October.

The commission has directed the trustees to submit the missing information and an explanation by March 30, so this can be considered before further action is taken.

The Christian charity was previously part of an inquiry into charities that have failed on two or more occasions to submit annual accounts, and was taken out last August.

During the earlier inquiry, trustees told the commission its failure to submit accounts happened partly because it would be merging with another charity, although no update has since been provided about this.

In a statement, the commission said: “The scope of the inquiry will be to regularise the defaults and consider taking appropriate remedial action against the trustees for persistent breach of their duties.”

The Times Series was unable to contact anyone at the charity for comment.