A FORMER English council leader has appeared in court for allegedly assaulting a woman at a polling station on the day of the independence referendum.

Mairi Rimmer, 67, is accused of kicking Patricia McLeish on the body, at the entrance of Shettleston Community Centre on September 18.

The building on Amulree Street in Glasgow's east end was used as a polling station.

Ms Rimmer, from Merseyside, St Helens, made her first public appearance in the dock yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

A not-guilty plea was entered on her behalf and a trial set for March next year.

The Labour councillor currently represents West Park Ward on St Helens Council. She has been a councillor for more than 30 years and lost a leadership challenge on St Helens Council last year.