Two men from Stevenston have appeared in court charged with possessing offensive weapons in the town.

Andrew Morgan, 43, and 55-year-old Thomas McKenzie appeared in private at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday following a police operation over the weekend.

Mr Morgan was arrested in Arthur Street and Mr McKenzie in nearby Burnbank Street.

In addition to allegations that the pair were carrying weapons in a public place, Mr Morgan is also charged with breaching a condition of bail.

The two men made no plea or declaration during a brief court appearance on October 23. They were both committed for further examination and were released on bail pending a further court appearance on a date yet to be confirmed.

The arrests were made after an increased police presence was seen in Stevenston following an attack in which a police officer was seriously assaulted at a property in Arthur Street last week.

The 30-year-old female officer is believed to have been stabbed while police were investigating a report of a housebreaking incident shortly after 2am on Wednesday, October 18.

The charges laid against Mr Morgan and Mr McKenzie are not believed to be in connection with that incident.