A 26-year-old man today denied causing danger to a policeman and resisting arrest after an incident with a high-powered water gun.

During the incident a policeman was allegedly hit in the face by a stream of water from a high-powered novelty water gun.

Road worker Gary Parker pleaded not guilty to both charges when he appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court in County Durham.

A further public order offence was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the incident on August 3.

Parker, of Bondisle Way, Stanhope, County Durham, was granted unconditional bail to return to the court on September 24.

Magistrates accepted jurisdiction after hearing that causing danger to a road user was an offence that could be dealt with at magistrates or crown court.

The alleged incident in Stanhope happened as the policeman drove past in his marked van with his side window wound down.