A FORMER parliamentary candidate intends fighting a drink-driving charge as she disputes the sample which showed she was over the limit.

Kathryn Smith, who was the Labour candidate for Gravesham at the general election, appeared at Dartford Magistrates’ Court this morning (July 27) charged with drink-driving.

Smith, of Cambridge Avenue, Welling, was arrested after crashing her Renault Laguna into a roundabout in University Way, Dartford, on April 26, just days before the election.

A sample taken by police showed the 50-year-old had 178 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - more than double the 80mg legal limit.

Smith has yet to enter a plea but Richard Storey, defending her, told magistrates: “Miss Smith will be pleading not guilty as the sample is disputed.”

The former leader of Bexley Council and deputy mayor will next appear at the court on August 5 when a date for her trial is expected to be set.

During the hearing, Mr Storey asked the magistrates to transfer the case to a court outside of north Kent.

He said he was concerned Ms Smith’s notoriety in the area could lead to bias among the magistrates, and could cause members of the public to believe she would not be treated fairly.

However, the magistrates, led by chairwoman Deborah Cowland, decided to continue to hear the case in Dartford.

Smith, who was defeated by Conservative Adam Holloway at the election, has been suspended by the Labour Party while the case is ongoing.