TWO men have appeared in court over the handcuffing of a government minister to a fathers' rights protester outside a Manchester hotel.

Jason Hatch is accused of grabbing the arm of Margaret Hodge, former Children's Minister, while Jonathan Stanesby is said to have chained himself to her.

Mrs Hodge was stuck in the cuffs for about 40 minutes outside the Lowry Hotel, where she was attending a conference on November 19, 2004.

Hatch, aged 34, of Chelten-ham, Gloucestershire, and Stanesby, aged 41, of Ivybridge, Devon, both deny false imprisonment.

Mrs Hodge is expected to give evidence in person at the trial, to be held at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on May 8.

Both defendants were granted unconditional bail.