They are among 12 people arrested in England in September as part of Operation Cathedral, a British-led global police investigation into an alleged Internet paedophile ring.

After being charged on Wednesday, the seven men were bailed to appear before magistrates in Hastings, East Sussex, on 7 January.

The Italian arm of the operation

The men, who have not been named, are from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire; Hayes, west London; Milton Keynes, Bucks; Dartford, Kent; Hastings, East Sussex; Catford, south east London; and Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

More than 40 people were arrested worldwide on 2 September in the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the United States.

It was the biggest international investigation led by UK officers, who seized computer equipment, 750,000 computer images of children and 200 computerised videos.

Of the 12 arrested, two other men are to be interviewed again by the police. No proceedings are being taken against the three other men who were arrested.

Police are also investigating Wonderland, a secret Internet club for paedophiles all over the world but based in the United States.