A Dutch tyre salesman is in difficulties with the Ukraine police authority and is being accused of selling tyres to the opposition demonstrating against president Viktor Yanukovych.

Edward Peters runs his tyre business some three miles from the Ukrainian capital Kiev where he sells his wares.

He is being accused of helping the demonstrators because they use old tyres to construct barricades and to burn on the streets of Kiev, Nos television reports.

The demonstrators want to get rid of Yanokovych and his pro-Russian government in favour of a government that will negotiate with the European Union.

Peters, who has a Ukranian wife and two small children, had his business raided by police on January 27 and his stock and books seized.

Under heavy pressure, he agreed to assist the police and signed a document confirming the seizure, without having a lawyer present, he told Nos television.

He was questioned at a police station and allowed to go home.

Two days later, he was summoned to court, where several members of the Dutch embassy were present. The judge ruled that the seizure of his 10,000 tyres stock and his books should remain in place. However, the judge did say there is ‘no realistic evidence’ that Peters did business with the demonstrators, he told Nos.

Peters immediately appealed and is awaiting the outcome.