Two Kilmarnock man have appeared in court charged with assaulting a man with a blade in Newmilns.

Luke Buckland, 42, of Marchdyke Crescent, and Sean Gilheaney, 25, of Stoneyhill Avenue, pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on May 7.

They have been charged with striking the man with a bladed implement to the head and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement in Newmilns High Street on March 10 last year.

They are now set to go to trial on July 29, with two key witnesses cited. The trial is expected to last for three days.