Two men who were arrested in connection with an alleged serious assault in Ardrossan have been released on bail before they return to court.

Kristoffer McDowall, 19, and Robert McDowall, 41, both appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, August 18, after police confirmed their arrest the day prior.

Kristoffer McDowall faces allegations of assault, leading to severe injury/permanent disfigurement alongside claims of being in possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Robert McDowall is alleged to have acted in a threatening or abusive manner which is likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm.

Both have been committed for further examination, and released on bail until their next appearance at a later date.

The Saltcoats pair were arrested and charged by police in relation to one of three incident across Ardrossan and Saltcoats last weekend.

Ayrshire police issued an appeal for information on Monday following reports that a vehicle had been damaged on Friday night, August 12, while a man reportedly suffered a head injury and a car was found to be on fire.

There were also reports of gunfire being heard in Saltcoats in what local councillor Jim Montgomerie compared to "like something out of a gangster movie".

Officers were first called out to the junction of Eglinton Road and Dalry Road in Ardrossan at around 1am on Friday, where they discovered a vehicle that had been damaged. A 20-year-old man was also taken to Crosshouse Hospital to be treated for a head injury.

It was this incident which the pair were allegedly connected to.

According to police, enquiries remain ongoing into two other incidents, which are being treated as linked.

At around 11pm on Friday, officers were called to a report of a car on fire in McDowall Avenue, Ardrossan, with no reports of any injuries during this incident.

Finally, at around 7.30pm on Saturday, August 13, officers were called to a report of gunshots being heard on Munro Walk in Saltcoats.

Again, nobody was injured during this incident.

Detective inspector Stephen McCulloch said: “We believe that these incidents are all linked, and targeted.

"The actions of those involved are extremely reckless and dangerous and it is vital we bring this to a stop.

“One man has already had to attend hospital with a serious injury.

“We are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward, think back – were you in any of these areas of Ardrossan or Saltcoats at the time? Did you see or hear anything untoward?

“We would also ask anyone with any dash-cam footage to come forward, you may have captured something that can help us.