TOP singer Leanne Brown has given evidence at Bolton Crown Court in the case of a man accused of stealing recording equipment.

The singer, one half of the group Sweet Female Attitude, who had a Number 2 chart hit last year with the song Flowers, told the jury about security at an Atherton recording studio where it was alleged Michael Powell stole the equipment.

The jury returned to announce a not guilty verdict against Powell.

David White, the son of a Lottery millionaire, called in police because he alleged that 43-year-old Powell of Cross Street, Worsley, refused to return the equipment he had borrowed from him.

White had set up a management company to promote and manage pop groups with money given to him by his father, who won more than £6 million.

One of the groups both White and Powell were associated with was Sweet Female Attitude.

White runs The Stables studios in Atherton, where songwriter Powell used to use the equipment free of charge because White hoped he would write a song for one of his groups.

Powell said he had not stolen anything and said that White had made the allegation because he was angry and upset at being "dumped" by Sweet Female Attitude.