A man was arrested and escorted off a plane at Teesside Airport after he falsely claimed he was carrying a bomb.

Officials at the airport said the British Midland flight to London's Heathrow Airport was allowed to continue after the 23-year-old man's claim was investigated.

Durham Police said the man was arrested shortly after boarding the plane.

He is due to appear at South Durham Magistrates court on 26 November.

The man was interviewed and charged with causing harassment, alarm and distress.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "The man was arrested by Special Branch officers at Teesside Airport after claiming he was carrying a bomb in one of his bags.

"He was interviewed and charged."

A spokesman for Teesside Airport said: "We want passengers to know that we take these things very seriously indeed."