A BARROW man has appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with attempted murder.

Mark Rigby, also known as Damian Noonan, of Egerton Court, Barrow, is accused of attempting to murder Kerry Ann Wood in the town on October 28.

The 45-year-old did not enter any pleas when he appeared in the dock today.

Although the defendant was charged under the name Mark Rigby, he insisted he goes by the name Noonan, offering to show the judge his birth certificate.

A timetable was set out for the case during the 10 minute hearing.

Tattooed Noonan was remanded in custody and will return to court on February 5 for a plea and case management hearing.

Judge Mark Brown ordered a number of inquiries to be made ahead of the hearing and set a provisional trial date of March 29.