A NORTH-EAST man appears before a special court in London today accused of offences brought under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Ian Davison, 41, of Burnopfield, County Durham, was charged last night with the preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to section five of the act, in that he acquired a quantity of the toxin ricin, explosives and other manuals, disseminated them to others and encouraged others to commit acts of terrorism.

He also faces two offences of possessing a record containing information likely to be useful to a person committing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58 (1b) of the act.

One of those charges relates to a manual containing information or instructions on the use or production of firearms, explosives and chemicals.

The other relates to information and instructions on the use or production of explosive substances and related items.

He is also accused of possession of a chemical weapon, a quantity of ricin, contrary to section two of the Chemical Weapons Act.

Mr Davison is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court at 2pm.

Traces of ricin, small amounts of which can prove fatal, and other material was found during a search of his home, in Mytle Grove, by Durham Police last week.

Specialists from the Ministry of Defence chemical testing establishment at Porton Down, in Wiltshire, helped in the removal of the substance, before it was taken to Government laboratories in Edinburgh.

Mr Davison, a former lorry driver and pub dj, and his 18-year-old son, Nicky, of Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, are suspected of involvement in a far right wing organisation.

They were detained under the Terrorism Act on June 2, and taken for questioning at a police station in West Yorkshire.

Mr Davison junior appeared before Westminster magistrates on Monday, charged with a single offence of being in possession of a record containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

It related to a manual entitled The Poor Man's James Bond, which is said to contain information and instructions on the use and preparation of firearms, explosives and chemicals.

The case was adjourned and Mr Davison jun was granted conditional bail to go back before the court on June 22.