UPDATE: A police sergeant has denied a charge of assaulting a Brighton woman during G20 protests in central London.

Sergeant Delroy Smellie, 47, of Larkhall Lane, Clapham, south-west London, pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault by beating Nicola Fisher, of Brighton, in the City of London on April 2.

Ms Fisher was allegedly hit by Smellie during protests that marked the summit of world leaders in London.

Smellie, who was dressed in a dark suit and mauve tie when he appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London, was released on unconditional bail by District Judge Daphne Wickham.

A trial date has been set for March 22 next year.

Ms Fisher had been at a vigil for 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson, who died the previous day, when the alleged incident took place at the Royal Exchange Square.

Smellie, a member of the Metropolitan Police territorial support group, was suspended earlier this year.

Officials at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) conducted an inquiry into the allegations made by Ms Fisher, 35.

They passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service where solicitors decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Smellie.