A CHARD man accused of making a malicious phone call to the police is to appear before Somerset Magistrates next week to answer the charge.

Martin Alan Higgins, 25, of Coles Place, is charged that on April 15 at Chard he made to the police a phone call which conveyed a threat for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to the recipient to whom he intended that its contents should be communicated.

When the defendant did not appear before a scheduled hearing before Somerset Magistrates, his solicitor Chris Ivory said that Higgins had not yet been interviewed by the police about the offence.

He asked for an adjournment to enable this to take place and to give him time to give Higgins legal advice.

The magistrates agreed to the request and ordered the defendant to return to the court at Yeovil on May 12 when he will be expected to enter his plea.

Until then he was released on unconditional bail.