A RUSSIAN student charged over two bomb scares at a North-East university has made his first appearance at crown court.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Aust, 18, was arrested in London on June 10 after a suspicious substance was found in alerts at Newcastle University's INTO language school.

The complex was evacuated twice and a controlled explosion was carried out on a recovered substance on the Town Moor nearby.

Mr Aust appeared video link from HMP Pentonville, where he is being held.

No formal plea was entered and Mr Aust, of Haymarket Lane, in Newcastle, was remanded in custody until September 11.

The court heard Mr Aust is accused of making or knowingly having in his possession an explosive substance between September 1 last year and June 11 this year.

He is also accused of carrying two lock knives when he was arrested close to the Russian embassy in London.

The court was told Mr Aust was initially arrested under anti terrorism provisions, but that those no longer applied.

A provisional trial date has been fixed November 11 this year.

A second 18-year-old Russian student, who was also arrested in connection with the alerts, remains on police bail pending further inquiries.