Former world champion boxer Herbie Hide has denied a charge of conspiring to supply class A drugs, but has been told not to leave the country ahead of his trial next month.

The 42-year-old, of Long Lane, Bawburgh, near Norwich, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to supply a quantity of cocaine between January 29 and February 2 this year, when he appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday.

Hide was arrested after being filmed by undercover reporters from The Sun.

Michael Clare, for Hide, told the court that his client had only returned from Nigeria on Sunday night.

Mr Clare said that Hide attended Bethel Street police station in Norwich on his return, as requested, but it was closed.

Hide was released on bail on the condition that he surrender his British and Nigerian passports to the court and that he not apply for any travel documents or leave the country.

Hide's co-defendant, Ben Sharman, 22, of Howe Lane, Poringland, appeared in court in July and admitted conspiracy to supply a class A drug, offering to supply a class A drug and offering to supply a class B drug. Sharman, who was remanded in custody, denied supplying cocaine to Hide.

The trial date for both men has been fixed for October 21.

As reported, a warrant for Hide's arrest was issued in July, after he failed to attend court, breaching his bail conditions, saying he was suffering from malaria in a Nigerian clinic.

But the warrant was later withdrawn, after a court heard that the judge was satisfied that he really was suffering from malaria at a Nigerian clinic.

Hide, who was born in Owerri, Nigeria, and moved to England as a boy, was educated at Cawston College.

He held the World Boxing Organisation version of the heavyweight title twice.