Detectives are keen to trace a car and two men after an armed robbery led to a pensioner's death.

At around 3.40pm on Friday, a man entered Wylie's Newsagents in Saltcoats where a 63-year-old woman was working before threatening her with a knife and demanding money.

He then made off from the shop, on Springvale Street, with a small amount of cash.

Minutes later the woman's 71 year-old husband, who rushed to the shop after hearing about the raid, took unwell and collapsed.

He was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock where he later died.

A post mortem examination is due to take place to establish the exact cause of death.

Detective Sergeant Martin Prendergast, from Saltcoats CID, urged anyone said: "Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding both incidents and it is absolutely vital that anyone who was in the area on Friday afternoon comes forward with even the tiniest piece of information that could assist us.

"From local enquiries we have established that a white BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was in the area around the time of the incident and I would ask the driver to please get in touch."

He also issued details about those officers want to speak to.

Detective Sergeant Prendergast added: "Two people were also seen separately in the vicinity of Springvale Street and I would appeal to both of them to contact the police.

"The first person is described as wearing a navy hoodie with the hood up, a black jacket, blue jeans and was carrying a grey rucksack.

"It is unclear whether this person is male or female.

"The second person is a woman who was wearing a brown jacket, black trousers and had a black bag on her shoulders."

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555