A STARK warning has been sent from a senior police officer to people who think 'pranks' involving home-made explosives are humorous.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, of Cleveland Police, said that during a time when many people are on high alert for terrorist activity, the last thing they need is to deal with explosive devices created for a joke.

The warning comes after a man was jailed for six months by Teesside Magistrates after pleading guilty to arson.

Jamie Wetherill, 31, from Eaglescliffe, detonated an explosive device he had created with gunpowder taken from a number or large banger-type fireworks.

The blast, last October, caused £1,000 worth of damage to brickwork at a site near to the river in Middlesbrough, sparked a major security alert and disrupted operations there for several days.

Det Ch Supt Braithwaite said: "His joke had a sour ending for him with several months behind bars to think about what he has done."

* Read The Northern Echo tomorrow for the full story.