Men now in their 60s and 70s are accused of sexually and physically abusing pupils at a Fife school between 1967 and 1983.

The five men are charged with abusing boys, who were aged between 11 and 16, at the former St Ninian's School in Falkland.

The High Court in Glasgow heard John Farrell, 73, Paul Kelly, 63, Edward Egan, 78, Michael Murphy, 76, and William Don, 61, deny the charges against them and are set for trial.

Dozens of witnesses are expected to give evidence about 121 charges involving sexual abuse and physical abuse. The majority of the allegations are against Farrell and Kelly.

The Crown says a total of 35 boys were allegedly abused at the school. Many of them allege they were assaulted with a variety of implements, including shoes, belt and a ruler.

Another accusation alleges Kelly left a 13-year- boy rolled up in a rug overnight. He is also said to have stripped another pupil and hung him upside-down from a bridge.

Farrell is accused, among other charges, of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old boy. He also faces a charge that in the early 1980s he indecently assaulted a boy at a monastery in Iona. He is further said to have attacked the same boy at a Catholic church in Motherwell in 1999.

Farrell, who is represented by QC Edward Targowski, lodged a special defence of alibi and Don, who is represented by advocate Laura Thomson, lodged special defences of alibi and incrimination. All five deny all the charges against them.

Trial judge Lord Matthews told the jury of nine men and six women that the trial is expected to last 12 to 14 weeks. The trial continues.