Remains found after Aberdeenshire cottage fire

HUMAN remains have been found during a search of a cottage which was severely damaged by a large fire.

Scottish fire service

The remains of a dog were also discovered inside the property in the coastal village of Crovie, near Gardenstown, Aberdeenshire.

The blaze at the detached house started on Tuesday evening and it took firefighters about two and a half hours to bring it under control.

The building was deemed too unsafe for officers to enter yesterday because the roof and first floor had collapsed, but fire crews began a search of the property today.

The owner, Jean Rennie, and her pet dog were unaccounted for following the blaze and it was feared they had been inside the seafront property at the time of the fire.

Police tonight confirmed the discovery of the remains, but said they have not yet been formally identified.

A force spokesman said: “Work is now under way to establish the identity of the remains and there are no suspicious circumstances. The search team also recovered the remains of a dog within the property.”

Police are helping to investigate the circumstances of the fire.