A MAN is due to appear in court for allegedly being found with a meat cleaver in his car.

This comes after police stopped and searched a Ford Focus on Passfield Avenue, in Eastleigh at 4.15pm on Saturday.

They found a meat cleaver in the passenger door pocket, which was one foot long including a 5 inch handle, and a two-forked prong, 10 inches long including the handle.

Paul Nicholson, 25, of The Quadrangle, Eastleigh, has been charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He has been bailed to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on January 24.