A MAN has been charged after it is believed he tried to use a fake bank card at Exelby Services on the A19.

He is alleged to have attempted to buy 15 packets of cigarettes on the northbound services at about 7am on Monday, May 8 with the card.

Suspicions were raised again when a similar incident occurred at around 10pm the same day at the southbound services.

Police were alerted and searched the area, including the A1 and rural roads around Boroughbridge. A car was stopped in Skelton-on-Ure a short time later.

A 24-year-old man from West London was arrested and charged with two counts of fraud by false representation, possession of an article for use in fraud and use of a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance.

He has been released on conditional bail and is due to appear at Northallerton Magistrates Court on Monday, June 5.