A LARGS man has appeared in court accused of sending indecent images to a child after a sting by a self-styled vigilante group.

William Wilson appeared in private at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court accused of causing an older child to look at a sexual image and communicating indecently with an older child following a swoop at a property in the town.

Wilson, 31, of Flatt Road, made no plea during a brief appearance and was released on bail.

His arrest by police over the weekend came after he was tracked down by a group calling themselves Child Protectors Scotland at an address in Largs on Friday evening.

The group, whose members pose online as minors to trap predators, posted a live stream on social media as they arrived at the property and confronted the accused.

They later posted saying Wilson had denied all accusations of wrong-doing but said they would be passing the information they had gathered on his alleged offending to police.

One local told the News: "There was quite a commotion and everyone was wondering what was going on.

"Police were on the scene shortly after these people appeared and it is all everyone around here has been talking about."

Officers arrived and took the accused into custody, pending his appearance in the dock on Monday.

The case has been continued for further examination and Wilson is expected to reappear in the dock at a later date.