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UK-based Carnegie Minerals has confirmed Gambian police have arrested its recently-appointed mining engineer Charlie Northfield over allegations the illegal extraction of titanium, iron ore and uranium.

Carnegie said it strongly refutes the charges and is working with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to secure his release.

The Gambian government cancelled Carnegie's mining license after accusing the company of mining and exporting uranium, titanium and iron ore to Australia, when the company only had a license for ilmenite.

Carnegie, which shares the license with joint venture partner Astron, said a component of ilmenite is titanium and iron oxide.

AIM-listed Carnegie added trace amounts of uranium are also usual in such deposits but cannot be economically extracted and therefore have no commercial value.

Alan Hopkins, managing director of Carnegie Minerals, said: "We strongly refute all charges the Gambian government has levied against us.

"We have been operating in The Gambia since 1999 and have always strongly adhered to the legal processes as set out by the Gambian government and our mining licence.

"We are now doing everything in our power to ensure the safe return of our employee," Mr Hopkins added.

In a previous statement, the company said it is continuing to focus its efforts on other existing and emerging projects.

Shares in Carnegie fell ten per cent in morning trading on the London Stock Exchange to 2.25p.