THE son of a former Blackburn church minister had an attempted murder charge against him dropped when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for the first time.

Simeon Dagger is accused of attacking his father, the Rev Kenneth Dagger, at the family home on September 1.

The 24-year-old had been charged with attempted murder but this was dropped and instead he faces two lesser alternative charges.

Neil Flewitt, prosecuting, said that the Crown had taken the view that there was insufficient evidence to proceed on the attempted murder charge.

Dagger pleaded not guilty to wounding his father with intent and he also denied unlawfully wounding him. It is alleged he attacked his 52-year-old father at the vicarage of St Martin's Church, in Southdene, Kirkby, with a wine bottle and an ice pick.

The priest, who worked at various churches in the Blackburn Diocese, received injuries to his ear, neck, chest and thigh and taken to University Hospital, Aintree.

Dagger, of Peatwood Avenue, Southdene, Kirkby, appeared in the dock wearing a charcoal grey suit, blue shirt and tie, and glasses. He was further remanded on bail to await his trial beginning on April 17. Conditions of his bail include a £10,000 surety and residence at his uncle's home in Wigan Road, Leyland.

Mr Dagger was a former curate at St James' Church, in St James Road Road, off Shear Brow, Blackburn, before moving as curate to St Bartholomew's, Church Street, Colne, in 1979.