FORMER Dundee MP Jim McGovern and his wife were told to leave a pub and police were called after the couple became "rude and aggressive towards staff".

Pub chain Wetherspoon said that two customers, understood to be former Dundee West MP Jim McGovern and wife, Dundee councillor Norma McGovern, were asked to leave The Counting House on Reform Street around 11pm on Thursday.

Mr McGovern released a statement claiming he had called the police after a confrontation with a man "acting very strangely".

However a spokesman for Wetherspoon said: "We can confirm that two customers, one male and one female, were asked to leave The Counting House, in Dundee, on Thursday night.

"They were being rude and aggressive towards the staff at the pub. Wetherspoon has established a 'code of conduct for responsible retailing' and takes the safety and security of staff and customers very seriously.

"Anti-social and abusive behaviour will not be tolerated in our pubs."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Officers attended at the Counting House, Reform Street, Dundee at about 11pm Thursday following a report of two people refusing to leave the premises, enquiries were made and the matter was resolved."

Mr McGovern represented Dundee West until he decided to step down last for health reasons.

He had represented Labour as an MP in the constituency since 2005 but pulled out of the running just over a month before the general election.