THE man at the centre of a storm surrounding so-called cocaine user kits is to face court action.

Stockton shop owner Nabeel Maqsood, 26, will be summonsed to Teesside Magistrates' Court in the coming months.

Police said it would be for the offence of supplying or offering articles to administer or prepare drugs.

Mr Maqsood insisted that he has sold nothing illegal at his Stockton High Street shop, called The Gift Centre.

The "kits", which cost £13, consist of a razor blade, mirror, tube and metal spoon. Mr Maqsood has said that similar stock, along with cannabis smoking pipes, can be bought at a number of shops in Stockton.

He has had £7,000-worth of stock seized by Cleveland Police.

He said: "I would have sold that stock. Some of it was ordered and I'm going to have to refund people.

"I do not think it is fair that I'm the only person who has been picked on like this. It makes no sense."

Mr Maqsood is not expected to be charged until he appears at court some time next year.