A PONTYPOOL man has appeared in court this morning charged with possessing explosive substances following a bomb alert in Risca on Tuesday.

John Mark Wise, whose address was given as Oaklands Road, Sebastopol, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court after being arrested yesterday.

The court heard how the explosives allegedly relate to a pipe bomb and a grenade specifically.

Wise, 51, was told he would next appear at Newport Crown Court on March 20. He was remanded in custody.

A 50-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the same offence has been released with no further action to be taken.

Gwent Police originally said the man was from Newport.