BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court next month accused of punching a police officer in the face during a vehicle stop near Singleton.

Officers stopped a truck on the New England Highway at Rixs Creek on Wednesday morning as part of an operation targeting dangerous goods to inspect several large gas bottles.

Police say a man driving behind the truck stopped and confronted the officers, punching one of them in the face.

The 47-year-old was arrested – he’s due to face Singleton Local Court on September 27.

The truck was one of 17 inspected, with 11 found to be non-compliant resulting in fines valued at $24,000.