A criminal gang has been convicted of attempting to rob a boutique jewellery store at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews.

The group of seven men targeted the Mappin and Webb branch in March 2015, planning to use scooters for their getaway.

Weapons were bought, reconnaissance was carried out on the shop and the two vehicles were stolen in preparation of the raid.

Unknown to the gang, police had been watching and moved in shortly before they could carry out the crime.

It led to Kevin Mulheron, 34; Thomas Slayford, 20; Paul Hogwood, 56; Peter Attwood, 44; Benson Aluko, 20; Kai McGinley, 18, and Louie Attwood, 21, being convicted of conspiracy to rob.

They were remanded in custody and face lengthy jail terms when they return to the dock next month.

Mulheron was the Scottish link to the predominantly London-based gang.

Peter Attwood, together with his son Louie, initially joined Mulheron and McGinley to travel to the Fife town in late February last year.

The High Court in Glasgow heard police were already tracking the gang, with Louie Attwood and McGinley seen walking around the Old Course hotel.

Prosecutors believe the pair were carrying out reconnaissance by recording footage on mobile phones of the jewellers.

They later returned south but the gang, minus Louie Attwood, were back in Scotland just over a week later. They used the home of Mulheron's brother in Govan, Glasgow, to finalise their robbery bid.

Before that, Peter Attwood hired a BMW in London while his son bought sledgehammers, holdalls, motorcycle helmets, jackets and waterproof trousers.

The jury heard two Piaggio scooters were ferried north having earlier been stolen in London. They were chosen for being "nippy" and "agile" to get away from a crime scene quickly.

The court was told that on March 3, McGinley bought a knife and cleaver from the then Crocketts hardware store in Glasgow. Mulheron purchased a roll of tape.

Four of the gang were spotted travelling in the BMW. Hogwood and a black male, believed to be Aluko, were thought to be in a Transit van.

The gang later arrived in St Andrews ready to raid the jewellers but armed police instead stopped them in their tracks.

The jury was told Hogwood later made a telephone call while on remand. During it, he said: "If they had turned up 10 minutes later, they would have caught us right in the act."

Mulheron gave evidence during the trial but insisted he was not aware of any robbery plans. He claimed he initially only returned to Scotland as he had a key for his brother's home.

Prosecutor Paul Brown branded his evidence a "charade" and "a load of nonsense".

Judge John Morris QC deferred sentencing for reports.

Speaking at the conclusion of the trial, detective inspector Stevie Sandilands from Police Scotland's Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit in Glasgow said: "Thanks to vital information that was provided to Police Scotland by our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police we were able to carry out extensive surveillance activity on this crime group and track their movements on the day they intended to carry out the robbery in St Andrews.

"I would like to thank the Met for their proactive and swift assistance, which ultimately helped us stop a potentially violent and dangerous incident taking place."

Detective inspector Nick Blackburn from the Met's Flying Squad, said: "This case demonstrates the success of strong joint working between the Met's Flying Squad and our colleagues in Police Scotland.

"By working together across force borders, a network of dangerous individuals have been brought to justice before they could carry out this audacious crime."