A man from Manor Park is due to appear in court accused of attending illegal cockerel fights.

Akhtar Hussain, 47, of Greenhill Grove, is among five people, including a teenager, charged with being present at an animal fight involving cockerels, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Mohammed Asab, 50, of Water Lane, Seven Kings, is charged with causing an animal fight involving cockerels, taking part in an animal fight involving cockerels, kept or trained cockerels for use in connection with an animal fight, kept premises for use for an animal fight, and causing unnecessary suffering to a cockerel by failing to provide veterinary care.

All the charges relate to a cockfight that allegedly took place in Water Lane in January.

Hussain, Asab, Mohamed Arif, 43, of Fairfield Road, Ilford; London; Mehtab Ahmed, 41, of Celebration Way, Highams Park, Altaf Hussain, 54, of Parkstone Road, Coventry in the West Midlands, and a 16-year-old who cannot be identified will all appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing tomorrow.