A woman accused of murdering her elderly neighbour with a rolling pin took money from her bank account and persuaded her not to contact police, a trial has heard.

Nicola Brisland told a jury on Thursday that Sandra Weir said she had "accidentally" taken the cash from Mary Logie, who was found dead in her home in Leven, Fife, on January 5.

Ms Brisland said the 82-year-old, who relied on Weir as an "unofficial carer", threatened to go to police over the theft after discovering the money was missing.

The 50-year-old witness, who revealed she and Weir had taken heroin together at various times in 2015, told the court: "She [told me] Mary was going to go the police about it but it had been sorted out.

"She told Mary that she had used the wrong card."

The witness, also of Leven, was giving evidence on day four of the trial against 41-year-old Weir, who denies eight charges including murder.

Ms Brisland told the court she gave Weir a £150 loan on Boxing Day last year.

Weir told her she would give the cash back on January 5, 2016, the day that Mrs Logie died.

The court also heard from Weir's wife Alexander, who said she ran to their flat to say there was "something wrong" with Mrs Logie.

He said she had gone next door to check on Mrs Logie, known as Rae, after trying to phone her and getting no answer.

The 58-year-old said: "Within a minute or so she barged back in screaming 'There's something wrong with Rae. Come down'."

He said because of "the panic in her voice" he ran down to a landing where he saw his wife and another neighbour before going into the flat to try to help Mrs Logie.

Mr Weir said: "Obviously I didn't know what had happened but I saw a wound on her head."

He said when he was trying to find a pulse he heard Mrs Logie breathing and then noticed further wounds.

"I realised then it wasn't a fall," he said.

Weir said his wife was registered blind and described her condition as like tunnel vision. He agreed she had battled with a drug problem.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC asked if he was aware of that in the summer of last year.

He replied: "No, not really but I had my suspicions. I never, ever saw her taking drugs."

Mr Weir said she had been on a programme for the heroin substitute methadone and in 2014 they had gone to Arran to allow her to go "cold turkey".

Mr Prentice asked if in December of last year or January this year she had indicated that she had debts.

Mr Weir replied: "It was before that in November when she told me she had been dabbling in drugs again and owed some money. It was a shock to me. She also said she owed money to Rae."

He said he would try to pay some of the money back and made a payment to the neighbour's bank account.

Weir is accused of murder and of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by cleaning blood from a floor and disposing of and washing clothes.

She is also accused of stealing unknown quantities of money, two rings and Mrs Logie's bank card or cards between April 1, 2010, and January 5 this year.

Prosecutors also allege she used Mrs Logie's bank card to steal £4460 at cash machines around Fife between December 2014 and January 4 this year.

Weir denies the charges against her and has lodged a special defence of alibi.