A FORMER Irvine priest has appeared in court charged with historic sex offences.

Father Paul Moore, 80, is facing three historic charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour.

Now retired, Moore was a formerly the parish priest at Castlepark's St Margaret's Church and chaplain at St Mark's Primary School.

Moore, who lives in Largs, appeared at a private hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week and made no plea or declaration to the charges.

He was granted bail and will return to court later this year.