Julia Bradbury at the start of the Coast-to-Coast walk in St Bees

Fellwalking pin-up Julia Bradbury is to resume her role on the Watchdog programme after she was cleared of involvement in a frequent-flyer account fraud.

She had voluntarily stepped down from the show after Sussex police launched an investigation into irregularities with the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club accounts of the Wainwright’s Walks presenter and her sister Gina Fox, who was her publicist.

Police have confirmed she is no longer a suspect in the continuing investigation. A letter from officer looking into the matter said: “Julia Bradbury has been asked by Sussex police to provide a voluntary written witness statement as a potential witness/victim of fraudulent activity.”

She removed herself from the Watchdog programme when news of the investigation emerged, in order, she said, to protect the reputation of the show.

A worker for the airline is understood to have left the company and a new account set up for Ms Bradbury.

In addition to her Watchdog appearances, she has popularised fellwalking by presenting Wainwright’s Walks, following the Grumpy Old Fellwalker’s Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells and is currently to be seen walking his Coast-to-Coast route in a six part series on BBC4.