A former magistrate and councillor will have to wait another month to find out whether he faces charges after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman.

Paul Geldart, of Darlington, who denies the allegation, was arrested in August after a woman contacted the police and claimed she needed hospital treatment after being attacked.

The former magistrate, who said the allegations were "a load of rubbish," was released on police bail until the weekend, when he answered bail at Darlington police station.

A police spokesman last night confirmed his bail had been extended until November 17.

Mr Geldart hit the headlines in 1998 when his son, Stephen, was convicted of killing his mother with a champagne bottle.