Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command have charged a man with possession of an unauthorised firearm.

A taxi picked up the man in Mayfield about 6.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 4 November 2015).

During a conversation with the male taxi driver, the man allegedly exposed the handle of a pistol in the waistband of his pants.

Fearing for his safety, the driver dropped the man off a few streets away and contacted police.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command later attended a home in Newcastle Road, Jesmond, and arrested a 24-year-old man.

During a search of the premises, police seized a replica semi-automatic pistol from beneath the refrigerator.

Police took the man to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with possess unauthorised pistol.

The man appeared in Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 5 November 2015), where he was refused bail to face the same court on Thursday 17 December 2015.