A POLICE officer is to appear in court next month accused of drink-driving in a neighbouring force area.

John Groves, 49, a detective constable with Cleveland Police, was charged with the offence after he allegedly drove a Ford Mondeo car, while over the drink-drive limit in Peterlee, County Durham, on August 23.

The case was listed at Peterlee Magistrates' Court yesterday, and was adjourned in his absence until September 13.

Forty-nine-year-old Det Con Groves, who lives in the east Durham area, is based in Hartlepool. A spokesman for the Cleveland force would only confirm an officer was facing a drink-drive charge.