A gang of women have admitted being involved in a £10,000 heroin handover.

The trio were caught red-handed after a bag of the class A drug burst and was spilled all over their car and on to the ground outside Perth Railway Station.

Couple Amelia McCracken, 30, and Natalie Carmichael, 26, arranged to meet mother-of-three Margaret Haldane, 37, at the station to collect the drug package from her.

Police had received a tip-off about McCracken's car, however, and two passing officers watched as Haldane came off a train and climbed into the vehicle with them.

A package was handed over and she got out again to head back into the station so officers called for back-up and swooped on the trio in the station car park.

By the time they got to the car the women had broken open the bag of heroin and there was a trail of brown powder over the seats, the dashboard and the door.

Fiscal depute Carol Whyte told Perth Sheriff Court: "The area was extremely busy with members of the public.

"Police Scotland had information they might be involved in the supply of drugs.

"They saw the vehicle enter the car park. Haldane approached and got in. Police were suspicious and believed they witnessed a drugs transaction.

"All three were detained. A bag containing brown powder was found on the ground near the passenger door.

"A thick covering of brown powder was spilled on the ground.

"A large amount of brown powder was spilled over the inside of the passenger door and the dashboard."

Haldane was found with nearly £1000 in cash.

When the couple's home in Atholl Street, Dundee, was searched the police found messages which showed the deal had been set up several days in advance.

Ms Whyte told the court the heroin recovered had a potential street value of £10,320 and none of the trio gave any explanation during interviews.

Haldane's solicitor Mr Murphy said his client agreed to carry the drugs to Perth on October 27 last year because she wanted to raise funds for Christmas presents for her three children.

He said: "She wanted money to get the children something for Christmas. She succumbed to temptation for getting a few pounds for a particular purpose for her children."

Mr Murphy said her children would now be separated and have to live with different relatives across Glasgow while she was in prison.

Solicitor Amy Fox said the other two accused were a couple and had been in a relationship for a number of years. She said they had lost their home and two dogs as a result of their arrest.

She told the court Carmichael had been a heroin addict for a decade and was funding a £100 a day habit. She told the court the couple were buying £10,320 of heroin "mainly for their own use".

All three admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin in Perth last October.

McCracken was jailed for three years and eight months, Carmichael for three years and Haldane for a year and three months.