A Cumnock couple have appeared in court charged with stealing more than £12,000 from a Christmas savings fund.

Michael Taylor, 39, and Lynne Taylor, 41, are accused of stealing a total of £12,460 intended for a Parks Christmas savings fund at their home in Craigens Road between March 21 and November 22, 2021.

During a brief hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court, the couple told Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart that they had no solicitor but were in the process of getting one.

Noting that "a substantial amount of money" was alleged to have been involved, Sheriff MacTaggart asked why the case had taken so long to get to court, and was told that "investigations had been ongoing".

The case was continued without any plea being entered, with the Taylors now set to return to court at a later date with legal representation.

All accused persons reported in the Cumnock Chronicle are considered innocent unless and until they are found guilty or admit the charge(s) against them.