A health board has been fined £100,000 after two patients took their own lives while under constant observation at hospital.

Kenneth McRae, 44, and 27-year-old Louise Docherty were admitted with mental health issues and died by suicide when out of sight of medics.

They had been assessed as being at "a high risk of self-harm and absconding".

Medical student Mr McRae was found in his bed at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow in September 2012.

Ms Docherty was in Dykebar Hospital in Paisley in March 2014 when she killed herself.

Greater Glasgow Health Board admitted flouting health and safety by failing to properly carry out observations during a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Bill Totten fined the organisation £100,000 on Tuesday.

He said: "In this case the plea of guilty by Greater Glasgow Health Board recognises that the deaths were avoidable and accepts responsibility for the defects which lead to them."

The court heard Mr McRae had to give up his medical studies before his final year because of his mental health issues.

His sister and brother-in-law visited him on September 1, 2012, and before leaving found him to be "quite unwell".

Procurator fiscal depute Catriona Dow said Mr McRae was seen at 11.40pm on that day by a staff member.

He was noted to be "alert but not engaging" and around midnight the member of staff carrying out constant observations saw only part of his body from outside the room.

A short time later Mr McRae was found dead, the court heard.

Ms Docherty was being treated in hospital after becoming unwell following the birth of her sons in 2011.

She was described as a much-loved mother, sister and daughter.

There was a deterioration in her mental state in March 2014 and while in Dykebar Hospital, she took her own life in a toilet.

The court heard that "had constant observations been properly implemented" neither of the patients would have been able to kill themselves.

If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide, you can contact the Samaritans for support and advice.