A thug stabbed his uncle 26 times during a frenzied murder bid.

Martin Joyce, 36, suddenly turned on Andrew Gray at the victim's home in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, on May 31 this year.

Mr Gray yelled at him: "Martin, what are you doing?"

Prosecutor Louise Beattie told the High Court in Glasgow how there had been a "verbal altercation" between the men after they had earlier been watching TV.

Joyce had returned from the kitchen with a knife and initially struck his uncle on the neck.

He then went after Mr Gray as he tried to escape out the front door and continued the assault.

Ms Beattie stated: "During the course of the attack, Andrew Gray sustained a total of 26 stab wounds to his head, neck, back and arms."

The injured victim staggered onto the street and flagged down a passing car for help.

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Joyce also fled, but then dialled 999 himself stating he was in the grounds of St Conval's Cemetery in Barrhead.

Police did not find him there and instead he was traced to his mother's house in Glasgow.

The court heard Mr Gray needing urgent hospital treatment including a blood transfusion. He also suffered a punctured lung.

He was only able to be discharged more than a week later.

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Joyce today admitted to an attempted murder charge.

His lawyer Paul Mullen said: "He was very clear from the outset that he wanted to plead guilty to this matter."

Lord Scott remanded him in custody and deferred sentencing until January 11 in Stirling.