POLICE say they will continue to take a hard line with passengers who make false bomb threats following an incident yesterday at an airport.

Paul Bright, 37, of Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was arrested after allegedly telling check-in staff at Teesside Airport he had a gun and explosives in his bag. He has been charged by police and is due to appear before magistrates later this month.

The region's airports have dealt with a spate of alleged hoaxes in recent months amid tighter security following the terrorist attacks in the US.

At least eight passengers have been arrested at Teesside this year