A crime journalist had a toxic liquid thrown on to his face by a man claiming to be a postman, a jury has heard.

Russell Findlay, 44, told the High Court in Glasgow he answered the door at his home in the west end of Glasgow at around 8.30am on December 23, 2015, dressed only in a T-shirt and pyjama bottoms.

Mr Findlay, who is investigations editor at the Scottish Sun and author of a book about Jamie Stevenson and another about the dispute between the Lyons and the Daniel crime families, told prosecutor Richard Goddard he looked through the glass panel of his front door and saw someone in a red jacket.

The journalist added: "I opened the door partially, about a foot. He said either Royal Mail or post."

Mr Goddard asked: "What happened next?"

Mr Findlay replied: "He said 'there's a parcel' and a hand came through the gap in the door with a standard Royal Mail card. I was instructed to sign it and given a pen. I asked where and he said at the top."

The reporter said as he turned to write his signature he felt a liquid splash on to the right side of his face.

This was followed by a bottle flying past and then the man, who he identified in court as William Burns, trying to barge his way into the house.

Mr Goddard asked Mr Findlay: "What was going through your mind?"

He replied: "Immediately, I instinctively knew there was something very wrong. I'm familiar with these attacks, I've read about them. I thought it was a toxic corrosive substance."

Mr Findlay told the court his attacker managed to get 2ft to 3ft into his home but he bundled him outside and they grappled on the monoblock area outside.

The journalist said while the incident was going on his ten-year-old daughter came to the door.

He added: "She was clearly very scared and I shouted at her to go and get help from the neighbours and get them to call the police."

While his daughter ran to a neighbour's house, Mr Findlay managed to hold on to his attacker.

He said: "At one point I said: Why did they send a fat clown like you as a hitman. Is this all I'm worth?"

Mr Findlay was asked if his attacker said anything and he replied: "He said very little. But towards the end I asked him who had sent him and he said: Wee Jamie sends his regards."

The court was told a knife was found in the doorway of his home and a set of broken false teeth were found on the driveway.

Mr Findlay was asked who the teeth belonged to and replied: "They are my assailant's false teeth."

Burns, 56, and Alexander Porter, 48, from Paisley, are also alleged to have shot Ross Sherlock in a murder bid near St Helen's Primary in Bishopbriggs last September.

Both men are also accused of assaulting Mr Findlay to the danger of his life. They deny the charges.

The attempted murder charge includes a claim a handgun was repeatedly discharged at Mr Sherlock.

They face a separate charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of a firearm and clothes and setting fire to a car.

Both men are also accused of assaulting Mr Findlay to his severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life.

It is claimed sulphuric acid was thrown in the Scottish Sun reporter's face at his then home in the city's west end last December.

The charge also includes claims the journalist had a knife brandished at him and was spat on, as well as being repeatedly punched and kicked.

Both of the alleged attacks are said to be "aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime".

Burns' advocate Thomas Ross and Susan Duff, defending Porter, entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.

Burns has lodged a special defence of alibi to the attempted murder charge, claiming he was working at Guinea Enviro in Maryhill, Glasgow, at the time.

He has also lodged a special defence incriminating James Boyce, whose whereabouts are unknown, for the shooting.

The trial before Judge Sean Murphy QC continues.