One charge dropped as Nigel Evans takes stand

Former Commons deputy Speaker Nigel Evans has been cleared of one of the charges at his trial, on the order of the judge.

The charge related to an alleged sexual assault on a 21-year-old man in a bar at the Houses of Parliament in 2009.

The judge, Mr Justice King, told the jury at Preston Crown Court to consider an alternative charge of attempted sexual assault to which Mr Evans pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, Mr Evans began to give evidence at the trial, as the BBC's Ed Thomas reports.

Mr Evans denies one count of rape, two counts of indecent assault, five counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault.