KENT Police have charged two men following a bomb hoax incident on a ferry sailing from Boulogne to Dover.

Graham Hinchcliffe, 30, of Doncaster Road, Rotherham, and 28-year-old David Churm, of Meadow View Road, Mexborough, south Yorkshire, are both accused of falsely claiming that a bomb had been placed on a ferry on Tuesday .

The pair are due to appear before Folkestone magistrates on Tuesday, July 12.

Det Insp Charlie Stokes said: "We and the other emergency services take all bomb alerts seriously, but particularly, of course, at times of heightened security."

He added: "Kent Police will not hesitate to act if a call turns out to be a hoax.

"I would urge people who may think it is a bit of a joke to think again, about the fear they could cause to others, the drain on the emergency services, the cost to the taxpayer, and the potential for ending up with a criminal record."