The 26-year-old actor, who is charged under his real name of John Shannon and played Billy Ray in the long-running TV series, faces allegations involving cocaine and cannabis resin.

Mr Alford, of Crescent East, Hadley Wood, near Barnet, Herts, faces one charge of supplying 2.037 grams of cocaine.

He is also accused of one charge of supplying 11.9 grams of cannabis and a further allegation of offering to supply a quantity of cocaine, all in August last year.

Martin Hicks, prosecuting, told London's Southwark Crown Court that the start of the three day trial was expected to be delayed for several days by legal argument.