NOTTS County striker Lee Hughes has denied allegations of a sexual assault in London.

The Magpies footballer, 35, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at the Aerodrome Hotel in Croydon on December 3 - the night before Notts’ FA Cup match with Sutton United.

At Croydon Magistrates’ Court today Hughes, of Waterside Way, Nottingham, pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried at a Crown Court.

He was dressed in a dark grey suit, white shirt and dark tie, and did not speak to reporters as he left the court.

Hughes, a former player for West Bromich Albion and Oldham Athletic, was granted unconditional bail by chairman of the magistrates’ bench Bill Whitmarsh, and the case was adjourned until a further hearing on March 21st.