Woman's body found on waste ground

THE body of a woman thought to be in her twenties has been discovered on waste ground by a dog walker.

Police said they were treating the discovery in Airdrie as suspicious and believe the body had been there since Saturday evening.

Strathclyde Police said that at 7:45am yesterday a man was walking his dog in the waste ground near Moss Side Avenue when he found the body. The area has been sealed off to allow police and forensic experts to carry out a detailed examination.

Officers are carrying out inquiries to identify the woman and a post-mortem examination will be arranged to confirm the exact cause of death.

Det Superintendent Alan Buchanan said: "Our inquiries are at a very early stage and until the post-mortem examination has been carried out we cannot speculate on the cause of death. However, at this time the death is being treated as suspicious."

He went on: "From our initial inquiries, we believe the body has been lying since yesterday evening; therefore, at this stage I would appeal to anyone who was in this area from yesterday afternoon onwards and saw or heard anything suspicious to contact us.

"This is an area of extensive parkland which is popular with dog walkers and is generally fairly busy throughout the day; therefore, someone may have unwittingly seen or heard something that may be of importance to this inquiry."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said there would be an police incident caravan set up at the site for anyone with information.

She said: "We have set up a police incident caravan near the area where the woman's body was found. It is there to reassure the community and for anyone who might want to speak to a policeman."