A COUNCIL grass cutter has appeared in court charged with several motoring offences connected to the injury of a four-year-old boy.

AJ Clark was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle by the Great North Air Ambulance Service after he was allegedly struck by the machine.

The incident happened just after 4pm on Monday, July 4 on Devon Crescent, in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street.

The boy’s injuries were not life-threatening.

Alan Connolly, 35, of Broadway, Gateshead, appeared before Gateshead Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with four offences.

He is charged with: driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after a road accident, failing to report an accident and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

No plea was entered and his legal representative Gerry Armstrong applied for the case to be adjourned for three weeks so it could be reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Magistrates agreed and the next hearing date has been fixed for September 9.

Connolly, who was working for Gateshead Council, has been granted unconditional bail.