Cheryl Tweedy leaving court after a previous hearing

The 20-year-old star is accused of racially aggravated assault occasioning actually bodily harm on Sophie Amogbokpa, 39.

The attack is alleged to have happened in January in a nightclub in Guildford where part-time law student Miss Amogbokpa worked as a toilet attendant.

Miss Tweedy spoke only to deny the charge and another of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the hearing at Guildford Crown Court.

Always denied allegations

The charges relate to an incident at The Drink nightclub on 11 January.

Miss Tweedy, from Heaton in Newcastle, is one of five members of the girl band created from the TV show Pop Stars The Rivals, who reached number one with their debut single Sound of the Underground.

Dressed in a black leather jacket, black top and blue jeans, she was accompanied to court for the five-minute-long hearing by fellow band member Sarah Harding.

The case was adjourned for trial at Kingston Crown Court on 7 October.

Judge John Bull bailed Miss Tweedy on the same conditions she had previously faced - that she does not enter The Drink nightclub.

The singer, who has always denied the allegations, was driven away from the court in a black people carrier vehicle with darkened windows.