SCOTLAND'S first female chief constable is to face trial after denying that an accident in February in which she and another driver were hurt happened because of careless driving.

Former Fife Constabulary chief Norma Graham, 49, who retired on August 21, was taken to hospital following the incident, in which her Audi Quattro was involved in a collision with a Renault Clio.Both cars were badly damaged.

Mrs Graham was discharged from hospital a few hours later. The driver of the Clio was also injured.

Mrs Graham, who became chief constable of the force in 2008, is accused of losing control of the car on a 90 degree bend during "treacherous" conditions on the B922 Cluny to Kinglassie Road near to the Glenrothes police HQ in February.

Yesterday she appeared for the first time in person at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. Her lawyer, Colin Simpson, said that she maintained her plea of not guilty to careless driving – and would argue in court that the accident happened due to black ice.

Mr Simpson said it was clear to him from a summary of evidence attached to the charge when the matter first came to court that the prosecution should never have been brought.

He said: "The temperature was four degrees, and there was black ice on the road. My client's position is that she hit the black ice. There is no suggestion of excessive speed."

Sheriff Alistair Thornton refused a Crown request for more time to prepare the prosecution case, and continued the case for trial in December.

When Mrs Graham was first summoned to court in June it was thought to be the first time a serving chief constable in Scotland had appeared in court as an accused.

Following the announcement of her retirement a spokesman said it had nothing to do with the accident or legal proceedings.