REAL Housewives Of Cheshire star Dawn Ward attacked pop singer Sinitta during a heated discussion aimed at clearing the air between them, a court has heard.

The So Macho singer, full name Sinitta Malone, is said to have been left "shocked" and "humiliated" after allegedly being shoved and having a napkin thrown at her at the Salmontini restaurant in central London on April 1 last year.

Ward, 42, who is married to former footballer Ashley Ward and features in the ITV reality show, denies one count of common assault at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Knutsford Guardian: Sinitta outside the London court (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)Sinitta outside the London court (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

(Sinitta outside the London court (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

The court was shown CCTV of the alleged incident, which shows the pair sitting at a table with two other women and presenter Lizzie Cundy.

Ms Malone, wearing a black dress with white pin-dot pattern and collar detail, and grey heels, took to the witness box to describe the incident.

She said: "She was angry about what I was saying and she has just, you know, gotten angry, and jumped up and sort of shoved me.

"First of all she shoved me in my chest. The second time was like sort of hitting me in the face.

"At the same time I was quite shocked because I didn't really know what had happened, because I didn't really expect it to happen at all."

Ms Malone, a close friend of Simon Cowell, continued: "I was trying, I suppose, to save face - defuse everything. But it was enough to feel, to hurt. I did feel it, it hurt."

The entertainer explained she had arranged the meeting in the hope of sitting down and clearing the air over a separate incident that occurred at a salon the previous month, and some "rumours" that had been circulating.

"She was telling me to shut my effing mouth, and all these kinds of things.

"At one point she threatened to put the glass in my face," said Ms Malone, adding that Ward had been drinking champagne.

Knutsford Guardian: Dawn Ward and her husband Ashley (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)Dawn Ward and her husband Ashley (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

(Dawn Ward and her husband Ashley (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Lisa Judge, defending Ward, suggested Ms Malone's comments during the argument had prompted a reaction, saying: "At this point you have just said to her that her husband is f****** s******g around, or words to that effect, continue with your (phone) conversation, put your elbow on the table, turn away from Mrs Ward, and put your hand to your ear.

"She is trying to get your attention, isn't she?"

Ms Malone, who has regularly made appearances on The X Factor, replied: "It is completely untrue."

The CCTV footage showed Ward leaning across the table and appearing to make contact with Ms Malone's upper body, causing her to put her hand out in an attempt to block the contact. It also appeared to show Ward throwing a napkin in the direction of the entertainer.

Asked why she stayed in the restaurant for up to 40 minutes after the alleged incident - with Ward getting her hair done next door - Ms Malone said she still had the bill to pay.

"Her (Ward's) parting words to me were 'pay for my champagne bitch', and they walked out.

"I couldn't just leave because I have had an incident," she said.

Ms Judge submitted that Ward had not threatened to glass Ms Malone, and that her tweeting of events was "just one big publicity stunt".

She replied: "No it isn't. I do put a lot on Twitter. It is not publicity that is good for anyone."

It was also suggested that she only went to police after she was threatened with legal action following a tweet she posted on April 23 about the alleged scrap.

Ms Malone dismissed this, saying she wanted Ward to know she could not get away with what she had done.

The court also heard evidence from Ms Cundy.

Describing the alleged altercation, the ex-wife of former Chelsea footballer Jason Cundy said that the argument got heated and there was a lot of going "back and forth".

"Sinitta, if I am right, said something regarding Dawn's marriage, which I think incensed Dawn.

"And then Dawn sort of got up and kind of shoved, from what I remember, because I was sitting. It was on her shoulder.

"It was like 'you have crossed the line talking about my marriage'," she said.

Dressed in a black leather skirt, a white shirt and a black blazer, she told the court she had known Ward for some time and that she was a tactile person who would often touch her to get her attention.

Ms Cundy added that as far as she recalled Ward had not threatened to glass Ms Malone, but had said that she would throw her champagne at her if she did not stop lying.

The case was adjourned until June 10 when the prosecution case will conclude and Ward, of Alderley Edge, is expected to give evidence.