A MAN charged with deliberately setting a fire outside a Greenock woman's flat while she was inside the property is set for trial before a sheriff and jury.

Roddi Lee Stewart, 34, appeared at the sheriff court via video link from prison to plead not guilty to the allegation through his lawyer Aidan Gallagher.

Stewart is said to have lit a bag of rubbish and caused flames to spread to the front door within a common close on South Street.

Prosecutors say this blocked the woman's only means of exit from the flat and placed her in danger on January 3.

The trial is due to take place in October.