A POLICE officer has appeared in court to face child pornography offences.

PC David Bright, 41, has been charged with 17 counts of making indecent images of children and 26 specimen charges of possessing indecent material.

The address of the Northumbria Police officer, who is based in Gateshead, was withheld by magistrates following a written request by his solicitor.

Yesterday, the father-of-two appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court for a brief hearing where he made no indication of plea and only nodded to acknowledge his name and date of birth.

He was released on unconditional bail to return to the court on March 24.

The officer was suspended in January after an inquiry was launched following a series of police raids.