The body of a young girl found on the Isle of Bute has been confirmed as missing Alesha MacPhail.
The six-year-old was reported missing around 6.25am yesterday morning.
Police have confirmed that formal identification has now taken place, after a body was found in woodland on the site of a former hotel in Ardbeg Road by a member of the public at around 9am.
A number of additional officers have travelled to the island today to provide support to the investigation team and to continue to provide reassurance to those in the community.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston said: “Whilst we have had a very encouraging response from our appeal yesterday, I would continue to appeal to those who took part in the search for Alesha when she was reported missing.
“Those individuals may have critical information which could assist with our inquiries”.
A post-mortem will be carried out today.
Anyone with information is asked to call officers from the Major Investigations Team via 101, quoting incident number 0695 of Monday 2 July 2018.
