Paris Hilton has pleaded not guilty to drink-driving charges in the US following her arrest last year for allegedly weaving around a Hollywood street in her Mercedes-Benz.

The socialite was not required to be in court in LA. Her lawyer entered the pleas on her behalf - to one count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or above.

The judge said the case must go to trial by February 23.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a 1,000 US dollars (£515) fine.

The minimum penalty for a first-time offender is a fine, probation and participation in an alcohol rehabilitation programme.

Motorcycle officers said they saw Hilton's Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR being driven erratically and stopped it after midnight on September 7.

Hilton later said she may have been "speeding a little bit" and was on her way to get a hamburger because she had filmed a music video all day without eating.

The 25-year-old hotel heiress, singer, actress and handbag designer said she had drunk only a single margarita at a charity event that evening.

Police said she appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. Her publicist said she had a blood alcohol level of .08%.