Police following Argyll car lead in Suzanne Pilley case

Detectives appealed for information about the movements of a silver vehicle on remote roads across Argyll and Bute on the afternoon of 5 May.

Ms Pilley, 38, has not been seen since 4 May when she was captured on CCTV in Edinburgh.

Yesterday, police launched a murder inquiry after finding CCTV footage of Ms Pilley, who worked as a bookkeeper, outside her office in Thistle Street on the morning she disappeared.

Officers said the new CCTV images along with other evidence uncovered, has led them to believe she has been murdered.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Flannigan, who is leading the

investigation, today appealed for anyone who saw a silver family car around unclassified roads in the central area of the Argyll Forest, including the Rest and Be Thankful area.

Specifically, officers want to hear from anyone who may have seen the car between 1pm and 3.30pm, and then in the evening between 7pm and 9pm.

He said: "Did you see a lone driver in a silver-coloured car, or near to one, who may have been stopped for some time in such a place?

"Please think back, it's the day before the General Election – can you recall seeing a similar vehicle?

"If there's any possibility it is critical you contact Lothian and Borders Police as a matter of urgency."

CID officers were yesterday talking to Ms Pilley's colleagues at Infrastructure Managers.

Ms Pilley, from Stenhouse, disappeared on the morning of 4 May on her way to work. She got off the bus at Jenners on South St David Street, and visited Sainsbury's in Rose Street.

She last spoke to her family at 8:38am, just minutes before she vanished, and detectives have now determined she was just yards from the main door of her office block at 8:55am.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston said: "The investigation being conducted leads us to believe that Suzanne Pilley has been murdered.

"A lot of inquiries are being carried out, predominantly going through the CCTV footage, and there are parts of the inquiries which have led us to that conclusion.

"The footage is from some distance away, and will require further enhancement, but we're confident because of the clothes and time of Suzanne's movements that it is her.

"Part of our investigation is to establish exactly who was in her office building at the time."

DS Houston added that any vehicles which may have left Thistle Street at the time were also the subject of security camera checks, although no particular cars were being sought.

Ms Pilley's office is opposite a small car park on Thistle Street. DS Houston would not say whether officers believed Ms Pilley may have been followed to her workplace, or had been met by someone waiting there.

A spokesman for Infrastructure Managers said it has been "an extremely stressful time", adding "we are very grateful for the support we've received from the police and others".

Yesterday Ms Pilley's parents Robert and Sylvia said they were "devastated" at her disappearance but still living "in hope of good news".