'We were doing nothing wrong,' says Newstone Barrett Driveways boss Felix Rooney

"It was outrageous, what they did to us," said Felix Rooney, who runs Newstone Barrett Driveways from his home in Littleton, Semington.

"When this happened it was all over the TV and radio and now they say what we have known all along, that we were doing nothing wrong."

Mr Rooney, along with David Robson and Simon Woodrow, was arrested after a dawn raid on his home and the caravans on his land where his Romanian workers were living in April.

At the time police and Wiltshire Council said they suspected the men, who worked as labourers for Mr Rooney's drive-laying business, were victims of human trafficking, or modern slavery.

Within three days of the raid some of the men were back at work, having convinced the authorities they were working for the firm of their own free will and were not unhappy with their living conditions, wages or terms of employment.

But Mr Rooney and his colleagues remained under investigation until Tuesday, when they were told there would be no charges brought against them.

"I have lost a lot of work because of this," a furious Mr Rooney said this week.

"We had our Checkatrade listing taken away because of it, though we have got it back now because they know there is nothing wrong with us. We will be asking the police for a formal apology.

"We told them we were doing nothing wrong but they would not let it go. We are hard-working honest people. We have had customers saying the police went to see them checking up on us and they had not one complaint about bad service, bad work or bad quality.

"The men working here work hard, they get paid and they send money home. We are trading fairly. They have investigated us for six months and could not find a single thing wrong with the way we run our business."

Mr Rooney also plans to complain to police about the way the 5.30am raid was carried out, alleging police damaged the door of his home and caused distress to his family.

On Wednesday Wiltshire Police issued a statement saying: "The operation was a complex investigation, involving a number of partner agencies.

"It was right and proper to carry out the investigation as there were serious concerns highlighted to the police surrounding the welfare and safety of individuals at the site.

"As part of the investigation appeals were put out via the media to gather information regarding the welfare of workers.

"Officers have carried out a thorough investigation, with support from partner agencies, but after careful consideration based on the available evidence have decided no further action will be taken.

"There is a formal process for complaints against the force, but as far as we are aware none has been submitted to us.

"In this case no further action is being taken, but Wiltshire Police takes allegations of human trafficking very seriously and will act when such concerns are raised."