A former mayor of Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht has been remanded in custody, charged with the possession of child pornography, the public prosecution office has confirmed.

Herman J (77), whose arrest took place on February 17, will be held for another 90 days, police told regional broadcaster Rijnmond.

The OM said the case is a “sensitive” one and that the investigation had to be “handled with care”. Police confiscated phones and computers at his home and are investigating the images they found.

J was mayor of the Zuid-Holland town from 1996 until 2011, when he took early retirement. He was mayor of Vessem in Brabant for eight years before that and chairmanof the local PvdA in Gouda.

He is due to appear in court in three months.