A teenager has gone on trial accused of taking part in a masked raid at a house in Stirlingshire.

Gary Ralston is charged with entering a house in Cowie uninvited and assaulting two people living there while in the possession of a baseball bat, a pickaxe and a knife.

It is alleged that, while acting with another male, he brandished the weapons at Marion and Ben Bowmaker, grabbed Mrs Bowmaker and pulled her up a flight of stairs.

The 19-year-old is also accused of struggling with Mr Bowmaker and repeatedly demanding money from him, striking him with the baseball bat and threatening him with violence.

It is alleged he then robbed the pair, and a third person, Emma Morrow, of three mobile phones, a quantity of money and a video games console.

Ralston is also alleged to have uttered threats of future violence and struck a light fitting with the baseball bat and damaged a household telephone handset.

The incident is said to have taken place on December 11 last year at the house in Easterton Crescent, Cowie.

At the High Court in Stirling on Monday, Ralston, of Plean, Stirlingshire, pleaded not guilty.

The case before Lord Ericht continues.