A dying former soldier was given a guard of honour as he arrived at court on Thursday to plead not guilty to the attempted murder of a Northern Irish man during the Troubles.

Dennis Hutchings, 78, a great grandfather who is suffering kidney and heart failure, will be tried over the death of a 27-year-old man with learning difficulties who was shot in the back as he ran away from a patrol in County Tyrone in 1974.

He was excused from attending Belfast Crown Court in person due to his ill health, instead appearing via video link from Plymouth Crown Court.

Hundreds of supporters, including many Northern Ireland veterans, turned out to support him as he arrived to be formally arraigned.

There were loud cheers as he entered the court, with cries of "no surrender" and "we love you Dennis".

Mr Hutchings, a former member of the Life Guards regiment, denies firing the fatal shot at John Patrick Cunningham, insisting he only fired into the air. Another soldier who also fired has since died.

The former soldier, from Cawsand, Cornwall, pleaded not guilty to one charge of attempted murder and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent during the brief hearing.