TWO Newport men appeared in court yesterday charged with an alleged "gunpowder plot".

Matthew Starmore, 30, and David Hodge, 46, both of Corporation Road, Newport, were remanded in custody after they appeared at Newport Magistrates Court.

The pair are accused of possessing explosives - smokeless gunpowder - for unlawful purposes as well as 23 rounds of soft-round bullets.

Starmore and Hodge were both charged with separate charges of tendering stolen cheques.

Hodge is accused of tendering cheques of £1422.95 and £644, while Starmore is charged with tendering cheques worth £846 and £630.

Hodge is also charged with stealing a mailbag belonging to Acorn Glass, Newport, containing a cheque book.

Starmore has been a Welsh co-ordinator for Fathers for Justice, the group lobbying for divorced fathers' access rights.

It is alleged that he had helped to set up another venture called 'New Fathers for Justice', but he denies any recent involvement.

It is also claimed that the police discovered a red diary containing references to "the most dramatic and climactic series of events to hit Wales since World War Two.”

Chairman of the magistrates John Jenkins sent the matter to Newport Crown Court to be heard on November 12.

Police said the two men were arrested on Friday October 30, 2009.