POLICE are warning travellers after a man was charged over a bomb hoax at one of the region's airports.

The 20-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was arrested on Friday after allegedly claiming to have explosives on him as he checked into Teesside Airport for a flight to Tenerife.

With security extremely tight at airports around the world, officers in Darlington have warned that this is not the time to be making such comments. The man was charged on Saturday and bailed to appear before the town's magistrates tomorrow.

Making such a claim is against the law under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act.

Penalties can range from fines to jail sentences of up to five years in the most severe cases.

l In June, The Northern Echo reported that six passengers had been arrested at the airport over the previous three months after claiming to have bombs in their luggage.