Body found on beach hours after family beg mother to come home

• Elizabeth McVey, from Musselburgh. Picture: Complimentary

Police confirmed that the corpse was discovered near North Berwick, East Lothian, by a member of the public at about 10:15am yesterday.

However, officers would not confirm if the body was mother-of-two Mrs McVey, who went missing from her home in Musselburgh, eight miles along the East Lothian coast, ten days ago.

The 50-year-old was last seen at her home in Eskview Road on Monday, 22 March.

The body was discovered yesterday close to the Renaissance Golf Club between North Berwick and Gullane.

Police have not yet released any details about the person's identity, but say there are no suspicious circumstances at this stage.

A police spokesman said: "We are making enquiries now to establish identity and the circumstances that led to the discovery of this body.

"Anyone with information that can assist with our investigation is asked to contact police immediately. No further details will be released until the body has been identified and next of kin have been informed."

Mrs McVey's family spoke about the pain her disappearance had caused them the day before the body was discovered.

Husband Michael, daughter Lynsey and son Mark have been tirelessly joining police and other members of the community in the search for the regular church-goer – known to her friends as Libby.

Mr McVey said: "It's hard to put into words. My life's been torn out of me. I feel so low and I'm just trying to hold it together for the children. It's been awful. Really awful."

Mark, 26, and Lynsey have distributed thousands of leaflets and put up posters around East Lothian following the disappearance of their mother.

More than 4,000 people have joined a Facebook group, set up by a friend to help spread the word. East Lothian Council has also appealed on its website, saying Mrs McVey was a "very popular" member of staff.

Mrs McVey, 50, who worked in the council's customer services department, left her home in the early hours of last Monday morning. Her husband raised the alarm when he woke at 7:30am and found she had gone.

Police launched a huge search, even using a helicopter to scour the local area, while the Queensferry lifeboat and coastguards have also combed the coastline.

Mrs McVey was well known in the local community. She was involved in amateur dramatics and was a volunteer at Our Lady of Loretto church.

Her children have distributed flyers to shops throughout Musselburgh, Haddington and other parts of East Lothian. They have also produced posters featuring a photo of Mrs McVey.