ALEX Salmond will appear in court today after being charged earlier this year with attempted rape and sexual assault.

The former First Minister is due at the High Court in Edinburgh for a preliminary hearing this morning.

Mr Salmond, 64, was charged originally with a total of 14 offences when he appeared during a brief private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on January 24. hey included two charges of attempted rape, nine of sexual assault and two of indecent assault.

READ MORE: Alex Salmond accused of sexual assaults on 10 women 

He strongly denies all of the allegations against him and has said he will defend himself "to the utmost" in court.

A full trial is expected to take place early next year.

Mr Salmond was First Minister from 2007 to 2014, when he stood down after the No result in the independence referendum.