A MAN was remanded in custody yesterday after threatening to blow up a bus just days after the London bombings.

Ian McCready made the threat to police only eight days after the London blasts which killed 56 people, including 13 passengers on a bus.

McCready, 42, made the threat during a phone call to a Durham Police legal executive about a claim he was making against the force, Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard.

As his anger spilled over he shouted: "I'm going to go into Sunderland and blow up a bus."

McCready, of Ferndene Crescent, Pallion, Sunderland, is now facing jail after pleading guilty to threatening to destroy property.

McCready appeared on video-link before Sunderland magistrates yesterday from prison after his stunt saw him remanded in custody.

Alan Brockbank, prosecuting, said McCready was involved in a long-running civil dispute over property seized by police during a criminal investigation, and rang the force on Friday, July 15 to speed things up.

He told the court that McCready then claimed he would go out and blow up a bus in Sunderland, and repeated the threat.

He admitted making the threat after first telling police: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Defence solicitor Tim Bittlestone said McCready had no previous convictions, and suffered from depression and anxiety in recent years.

He said this was not a case of somebody ringing police and making a bomb hoax, but a threat made during an argument with a police staff member.

Magistrates asked for probation reports to be prepared to consider all options, including jail. McCready was refused bail and was remanded in custody until August 15.