The 27-year-old former Cambridge United striker is accused of failing to give a breath sample and failing to co-operate in providing a sample after being stopped by officers near his home in the village of Shinfield, near Reading, in the early hours of yesterday.

A Reading Football Club spokesman said: "We can confirm that a player has been arrested in connection with a drink-driving allegation and is due to appear in court. This is a police matter and we cannot make any further comment."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman confirmed Kitson was due to appear before magistrates in Reading on January 18.

He added: "Dave Kitson, 27, from Shinfield, Reading, has been charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis and failing to co-operate with the provision of a specimen of breath."