Man charged over fake 'mobile-phone bomb'

A man has been charged after allegedly leaving a fake "mobile-phone bomb" in a Queensland woman's backyard.

The woman found the device on Saturday and took it to a Townsville police station.

Investigations showed the device, which involved a mobile phone, did not contain any explosive material.

Police arrested a man shortly afterwards and during a subsequent search of a property found several similar items.

The man, 40, is due to face the Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday charged with making a bomb hoax and threatening violence.

Police could not say if the man and the woman knew each other.