A police officer recalled finding the dead body of a woman allegedly murdered by her sister and daughter before being told she was "just asleep".

Constable Ryan McIntyre made the discovery after calling at the home of Sharon Greenop in Troon, South Ayrshire, in November 2016.

The constable remembered the "smell of death".

Mr McIntyre and a colleague went on to speak with Sharon's sister Lynnette Greenop.

At the High Court in Glasgow, a jury heard she appeared "perfectly calm" at one stage and seemed "refusing to accept" the death.

Lynnette, 40, and Sharon's daughter Shayla Greenop, 20, are accused of murdering the mum at their home in Troon.

It is claimed the 46 year-old was assaulted on various occasions between September 8 and November 10, 2016.

The court earlier heard how the next door neighbour of Sharon had gone to police after finding a pungent smell in his own house.

Mr McIntyre was one officers who turned up at Sharon's home on November 10, 2016, and after Lynnette let him inside, Mr McIntyre said he initially spotted candles burning.

He opened a bedroom door and first found a "fresh white bread sandwich" near a bed, but the constable went on to discover a dead body "covered neck to toe in a white bed sheet".

When speaking to Lynnette, she was initially said to be "perfectly calm" and "not expressing any concern".

Mr McIntyre said that when asked what happened, Lynnette replied "what do you mean?" and appeared genuinely inquisitive.

"My colleague said: 'Your sister is dead'. She replied: 'She is not dead. She is just sleeping'.

When his colleague stated she had been dead a long time, Lynnette began crying, entered a state of disbelief and was almost refusing to accept what they had seen.

She claimed she had last spoken to Sharon two days earlier and had "heard her moving about".

The officer added Lynnette went on to become "significantly calmer", which included her chatting about her niece Shayla and what bands they liked.

The murder charge alleges Sharon was repeatedly struck with "object or objects" and had her neck compressed.

It is said injuries were also inflicted "by means unknown" and that there was a failure to obtain medical help.

Sharon is stated to have been so severely hurt that she died.

The two accused, who both live in Ayr, South Ayrshire, deny all charges.

The trial, before Lady Carmichael, continues.