A 60-year-old north Cumbrian man has appeared before Carlisle magistrates charged with attempted murder, after a man was allegedly set on fire in a shop.

The accused man, Francis Robertson, made a 15 minute appearance.

He faces the attempted murder of Vaughan Livesey on Tuesday, in his PB Sports shop on Wigton Road.

Robertson is further accused of two charges of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place - a blow torch and petrol; and a machete.

The grey-haired, bespectacled defendant appeared in the glass-fronted dock of court number two, dressed in a black fleece.

Speaking in a quiet voice, he answered several questions put to him by the court's legal advisor.

He confirmed his name, date of birth, and nationality and that he understood the three charges he faces.

In the meantime, police are continuing to appeal for witnesses who may have seen what happened in Wigton Road on the morning of February 13.

They particularly want to hear from anybody who who may have been using a dashcam on their vehicle or who drove along Wigton Road between 9am and 12pm on Tuesday.

Keith Southward, the presiding magistrate, told the defendant: "The alleged offences are too serious for us to deal with them, therefore we're sending you to the crown court for a hearing on March 5."

In the meantime, Robertson, who stared at the packed public gallery of the court throughout most of the hearing, was remanded in custody until the day of that hearing.

Witnesses should call Detective Constable 2457 Burton on 101.