Face of tragic mum revealed

Officers made the grim discovery at two sites in Granton, less than a mile from where the severed head of Ms Stacey was found in a shopping bag.

A picture of the 44-year-old has been released as officers again today appealed for information.

Tests are now being carried out to determine whether the latest remains belong to Ms

Stacey. However, detectives said they expect forensic analysis will prove that they are.

The latest discoveries were made at two sites which police have been combing over the last few days, West Granton Road and Granton View.

Searches are continuing in undergrowth next to Granton Square, which has been sealed off since Thursday night.

Last night, a white tent had been erected over a small section of the scrubland beside an empty building which once housed the firm Stadia Signs and officers continued to stand guard at the scene.

A roadway leading to a nearby children's playpark at the site was blocked with traffic cones while land next to the playpark was also sectioned off.

Searches continued over the weekend since police revealed on Friday that the severed head found in a blue Ikea bag on Hogmanay in Hawthornvale, Newhaven by a dog walker belonged to Ms Stacey.

Scrubland on an embankment at the car park of Lidl and Iceland in West Granton Road was searched by forensic specialists. Last night the area was still sectioned off and police cars remained in position there. A flat in Royston Mains Place was also believed to be undergoing continued forensic searches yesterday, with officers still removing items from the property.

Police said they expected the searches to continue for several days.

Alan Cameron, 54, from Edinburgh, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday in connection with the discovery of the remains. He was charged with defeating the ends of justice and breach of the peace, and was remanded in custody following the short hearing.

Ms Stacey is believed to have died within the past two years and tests were ongoing to establish the exact circumstances.

It is understood she was not registered as a missing person.

A police spokesman said: "Detailed forensic analysis will take place in order to confirm the identity of the body parts recovered, and although the results will not be known for some time, we believe these to be Heather's remains.

"At this time we would like to reiterate our appeal for anyone who knew her to contact police as soon as possible."

It was reported that Ms Stacey had lived with her then partner Douglas Woolard in Polton Road West, Lasswade, until 2003.

Residents in Royston said police had arrived on Wednesday to search a home within a block of flats at the north end of the road.

Among the items seen by neighbours being removed was an armchair which had been covered in plastic sheeting. Bags of potential evidence were also taken away.

Another unknown address in the Pleasance area was also searched by the force as part of the inquiry. On Friday, managers at the Lidl and Iceland stores closed their doors shortly after a police cordon was extended to the whole car park.

After the discovery of the head on Hogmanay, officers found a number of other bones in bags, along with "various materials".