A HAMPSHIRE man at the centre of a dramatic six-hour flat siege has this morning denied causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Leeming, of Parkside, Totton, was charged following an incident on Saturday in which his girlfriend suffered a suspected broken nose.

The 34-year-old this morning refused to appear before New Forest Magistrate's court and a trial date was set in his absence.

Police - some wearing helmets and carrying protective shields - had surrounded the flat in Parkside on Saturday morning following reports that a man inside was threatening to kill himself.

A specially trained negotiator was brought to the scene while ambulance teams and officers from the police dog unit were put on alert.

The drama on Saturday ended about six hours later when a man surrendered to police and was led away to a waiting police van for questioning at Lyndhurst police station.

Leeming has been remanded in custody and will reappear before for trial at Southampton Crown Court on June 3.