A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a father-of-four in a disturbance at a house in North Ayrshire.

Allan Robertson, 26, from Glasgow, appeared at court on Wednesday afternoon charged with murdering 52-year-old John Smith earlier this month.

Mr Smith was severely injured in the alleged attack at a house on Misk Knowes in Stevenston on October 8.

He died at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital three days later.

Robertson appeared in private at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and was also charged with assault of severe injury and attempted murder of another man.

He made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody. He is expected to appear in court again next week.