Charges have been dropped against a couple over a supermarket checkout row.

Mobile phone footage of the arrest of businessman Nasir Hussain, 28, and his girlfriend, Mahira Hussain, also aged 28, on September 27 was widely shared on social media.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) attended a disturbance at the Tesco superstore in Silk Street, Rochdale, after the pair attempted to buy a large number of bottles of water but were reportedly refused.

The couple, from Oldham, were later charged with assaulting a police constable, while the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the incident after it received a complaint alleging excessive use of force and discrimination by the arresting officers.

On Monday the case against the Hussains was discontinued at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said: "This case was originally charged by the police. Following a review of all the available evidence we determined there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. The charges were therefore discontinued."

A spokeswoman for GMP said: "On Monday 29 October police were made aware of the Crown Prosecution Service's intention to discontinue an investigation into two people who were arrested on suspicion of police assault following an incident at Tesco on Silk Street, Rochdale.

"As this matter is being independently investigated by the IOPC, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."