A WORCESTER city councillor was due to appear in court today, charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Conservative Mohammed Altaf, who represents the city's All Saints ward, was set to make his first appearance on the charge at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The 33-year-old, who has lived in Worcester all his life, won the seat from disgraced former Labour councillor Nazrul Islam in May, 2002.

Mr Altaf, of Wyld's Lane, polled 956 votes to win a place on the council - 230 votes more than Mr Islam.

Later in the year, the defeated candidate was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, for forging a housing officer's letter to back up a visitor's visa.