A MAN has been charged with an offence of malicious communications following a letter being sent to the Chief Constable of Durham.

A Durham Police spokesman said the 39-year-old man from Lanchester, County Durham, was charged last Thursday, with one offence of 'malicious communications'.

The letter arrived at the police headquarters at Durham's Aykley Heads on February 28.

Within this letter were the names of 57 Labour Durham County Councillors.

The letter stated that "contracts" involving varying sums of money had been taken out on each of them, this also applied to any other prospective candidate standing for the Labour Party at the forthcoming May elections.

The man has been bailed to attend Peterlee Magistrates Court at 2pm on May 16.