THREE men have appeared in court charged with attempted murder after an alleged axe attack on a camper.

Anthony Beaton, John Paul Deacon and Daniel McCann are alleged to have smashed David Proudfoot's car windows before pulling him from the vehicle and assaulting him with an axe or a hammer to his severe injury.

The incident is said to have occurred in a car park at Loch Chon in the Trossachs, about 11am last Saturday.

Beaton, 29, of Petershill Road, Springburn, Deacon, 33, of Raithburn Road, Castlemilk, and McCann, 31, of Ashcroft Drive, Croftfoot, all Glasgow, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court.

The three made no plea and were released on bail.

It is understood Mr Proudfoot had been camping at the lochside on the night before he was allegedly attacked.

A road from Aberfoyle to Inversnaid on Loch Lomondside passes Loch Chon and the area around a car park there is often used as an unofficial campsite.