A TEACHER from Neath has appeared in court accused of attacking a special needs pupil with a glue stick.

Lynda May, aged 54, allegedly struck the boy on September 14.

Legal issues in the case were discussed yesterday when May, of Ty Segur, attended a short preliminary hearing at Swansea Crown Court.

Prosecutor Patrick Griffiths asked that the case be adjourned for trial by jury after May pleaded not guilty to an allegation of assault causing actual bodily harm. She also denied a less serious alternative charge of common assault.

Judge Huw Davies QC described the pupil as a "child under disability" and imposed a court order preventing the publication of any details which might identify him.

May's trial is expected to last three days, the court heard, but a start date has not yet been finalised.

A decision on the trial date is likely to be made during an administrative hearing that is scheduled to take place sometime during the week of March 22.

Until yesterday, May had been on conditional bail, but after Catherine Richards, defending, described this as "rather stringent" the judge directed that from now on bail should be unconditional.