Two teenagers have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in his 40s.

The boys, aged 15 and 17, who cannot be named due to their age, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with the murder of Hamid Erfani.

Police said the charges related to an incident in the St Pauls area of Cheltenham, where a man was stabbed in an alleyway.

The teenagers spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses and will be remanded in youth detention until their next appear at Bristol Crown Court on Monday.