EastEnders actress Linda Henry is to stand trial accused of racially aggravated harassment outside a Jamie Oliver restaurant.

The 51-year-old, who plays barmaid Shirley Carter in the BBC soap, was charged following an incident near Jamie's Italian in Greenwich, south east London, on September 14.

She is accused of using threatening or abusive words which was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and the alleged offence was racially aggravated, a court official said.

A spokesman for Henry, who has been charged under her married name Valiris, said: "Linda will be defending the allegation."

Henry was summonsed to appear at Bexley Magistrates' Court yesterday and will stand trial on February 11.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said a not guilty plea had been entered in relation to the case.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Linda Valiris, 51, an actress, of Kelvington Road, south east London, was summonsed to appear at Bexley Magistrates' Court on November 26 charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

"The next court appearance is scheduled to take place at the same court on February 11.

"This follows an incident in Nelson Road, Greenwich on September 14."

Henry, who has played feisty barmaid Shirley in EastEnders since 2006, is also known for her role as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV drama Bad Girls, which she starred in between 1999 and 2003.

It is understood she will continue filming with EastEnders as normal until her trial date.

A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment.