Labour has suspended one of its General Election candidates after he appeared in court accused of driving offences.

Sumon Hoque, 32, was selected in February as the candidate for Banff and Buchan, and was standing against Eilidh Whiteford of the SNP, who won the seat in 2010.

He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, where he denied five breaches of the Road Traffic Act, including driving without a licence and being over the legal drink-driving limit.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Sumon Hoque has been suspended from representing the Labour Party and we have, therefore, withdrawn support from him as the General Election candidate."