The charges relate to an incident in a nightclub in January

The 19-year-old appeared before magistrates in Guildford, Surrey, accused of an attack in a nightclub in the town.

Miss Tweedy is accused of attacking toilet attendant Sophie Amogbokpa in the Drink nightclub on 11 January.

The singer, from Newcastle upon Tyne, is one of the members of the group created from the TV show Popstars: The Rivals.

Jail sentence

Miss Tweedy originally faced a charge of racially aggravated actual bodily harm but this was withdrawn and replaced with a charge of racially aggravated common assault.

After the incident in January she issued a statement denying the accusations.

The offence carries a maximum two-year jail sentence.

Miss Tweedy, whose group enjoyed a Christmas number one last year with the song Sound of the Underground, arrived at court in a people carrier vehicle with blacked out windows.

She wore a long black jacket, brown trousers and sunglasses.

The case was adjourned by magistrates and Miss Tweedy was remanded on bail to appear before the court again on 4 April.