LIVE: Jury to be sworn in at re-trial of Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy as he stands accused of rape and attempted rape

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy is due to go on trial at Chester Crown Court accused of sexual offences.

Mr Mendy, 28, is accused of raping one woman and attempting to rape another. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The alleged attempted rape of 'Woman One' is alleged to have happened in October 2018. The alleged rape of 'Woman Two' is alleged to have happened in October 2020.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.

Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester, is overseeing the trial, which is expected to last up to three weeks.

The prosecution is represented by Benjamin Aina KC. The defence by Eleanor Laws KC.

Potential jurors were told by the judge this is a re-trial following a trial in 2022. "I anticipate that many if not all of you know Mr Mendy already had one trial," he said.

"This is a re-trial of two outstanding charges. He was acquitted of all the other charges, so you know that right from the start."

Court reporter Andrew Bardsley will post updates from Chester Crown Court in the live blog below...

The judge is now going through a jury questionnaire, which members of the jury panel will have to answer before a jury of 12 is selected.

The jury panel is told that the trial could last for up to three weeks.

He asks if they have any hospital appointments, booked holidays or health conditions that could affect their ability to sit on the trial.

They are asked if they know the two complainants in the case.

A list of witnesses which could be called are also read out, to check if any of the jury panel know them.

Another question they are asked is: "Do you know of any person who was in any way connected to the first trial of