A teenager has appeared in court charged with the rape and murder of six-year-old Alesha MacPhail.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered no plea and was remanded in custody following his brief appearance at Greenock sheriff court.

The schoolgirl, originally from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, was reported missing from her grandparents’ home near Rothesay on the Isle of Bute at around 6.30am on Monday. Her body was found in woodland a little over two hours later.

The teenager, who made the appearance in private, is expected to return to court next week.