ASSAULT CHARGE: A 25-year-old man has been charged with assault after a 13-year-old boy was punched twice in the face on a bus.

The incident happened on November 7 on the X31 bus between Lanchester and Stanley. The victim was not seriously hurt.

The suspect, from Leadgate, who was a passenger at the time has been released on bail and is due to appear before magistrates at Consett on January 22.