Police were called to court after a man in a motorised wheelchair rode over a security guard’s foot.

Officers raced to Brighton Magistrates’ Court today following the incident.

A court source said the victim was uninjured in the fracas which took place following a row over smoking.

A Sussex Police spokesman confirmed: “At midday police were called to the foyer after a 59-year old man in a motorised wheelchair had been involved in a dispute with a security guard.

“The man had been waiting to attend a court hearing as a defendant and had been asked to leave the foyer area by security staff as he was smoking.

“The wheelchair was reported to have run over the guard's foot. The guard was unhurt. The man in the wheelchair, who was also unhurt, was spoken to by officers and an appointment will be made to interview him at a later date on suspicion of common assault.”