A charge of witness intimidation against Rod Hills, the former leader of City of York Council, has been dropped.

The 56-year-old councillor had been due to appear before the city's magistrates yesterday on allegations that he intimidated local woman Lorraine Cumberland in the city.

The case was due to be committed for trial to York Crown Court, but the Crown Prosecution Service told magistrates that it had discontinued the charge.

Mr Hills, of Huntington Road, York, had denied the charge on September 19 when he elected trial by jury. He attended the court yesterday but did not go into the courtroom.

Three more charges were adjourned until December 9 for a pre-trial review.

They are that he wasted police time between February 20 and April 4, that he solicited women in York for prostitution between February 1 and June 19, and that he drove carelessly in York on May 19.

He remains on bail.

Mr Hills has worked as a lecturer in economic and social history at York University since 1965.

He has been a Labour city councillor since 1979, and served as leader of the council until earlier this year. He continues to represent Clifton ward.