Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has arrived at Manchester Magistrates' Court for a trial after being charged with a public order offence following an alleged road rage incident.

The 43-year-old Republic of Ireland assistant manager is alleged to have followed a taxi to a junction in Altrincham before shouting at the man, who had urged him to smile.

"Mr Kerar, a taxi driver by profession, picked up a fare, Miss Isman, driving to Hale village where she stopped to get some money. Mr Kerar saw Mr Keane in a black 4x4 vehicle," the Daily Mail quotes Mark Angus as saying in an opening statement for the prosecution.

"He described he had been staring aggressively towards Mr Kerar, at this point Mr Kerar gestured a smile with his hands. He drove off and Mr Keane follows behind.

"At a junction the defendant gave a 'V' sign towards Mr Kerar and then gets out of his vehicle, at this point he becomes aggressive, shouting and waving his arms around towards Mr Kerar and his passenger. He then gets back in his vehicle and drives away."

Keane has pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum six-month prison sentence and £5,000 fine.