Winchester TV presenter Alastair Stewart has been charged with drink-driving, it was revealed today.

The 50-year-old popular newsreader and presenter of the hit programme Police, Camera Action was arrested at his home in the city last night, police revealed.

A Hampshire police statement confirmed that Mr Stewart, of Wood Lane, Bramdean, near Winchester, was arrested after his Mercedes car had collided with a hedge.

The father of four was bailed to appear before Basingstoke Magistrates' Court at 11am on July 1.

Mr Stewart, who currently hosts nightly news programme London Tonight, got into television through his involvement with student politics and studied economics, politics and sociology.

He was deputy president of the National Union of Students for two years from 1974, and towards the end of his term of office was interviewed by Southern Television after a student meeting in Winchester.

Within four years of joining the company he landed the job of industrial correspondent at ITN.

He co-anchored ITN's network coverage-of three General Elections from 1987.

Mr Stewart has also provided the commentary for many of ITN's other special programmes on the ITV network including the State Openings of Parliament, numerous by-elections, State Visits and for the Royal Weddings of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke Duchess of York.

He is involved with various good causes in Hampshire and is vice patron of Southampton children's charity the Rose Road Association.

He also opened Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's brand new command centre in Eastleigh five years ago.

He provided live commentary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster as the details of the tragedy unfolded. A two-minute news flash became an unscripted, one-hour special programme.

He is married to Sally, a former television production assistant, and they have three sons and one daughter.