Body found in wooded area days after Scots teen reported missing

Police searching for a missing teen have discovered a body in the wooded area of a Scottish town.

Officers have mounted search efforts for 19-year-old Jamie Lyons after he went missing from Kirkcaldy, in Fife, Scotland on Sunday. Family members who raised the missing persons case over the weekend urged people to come to woodlands off Oriel Road in the town to help assist with the search operation on Monday.

The family made the call on social media and posted a picture showing police standing at the edge of a cordon placed near the wooded area. Local police confirmed this afternoon in a statement that they had informed his loved ones of a body that was discovered in the area.

Police Scotland said the body was found in the woods off Oriel Road, after officers were called to the scene at around 4.20pm on Monday. Officers closed the road in both directions at around 5pm, and it remained shut until around 6.30pm. A Kirkcaldy local speaking to The Courier said people had started gathering in the area at around 6pm.

They added that several dozen people flocked to the scene while the road was closed. They said: "People started gathering at the woodland spot on Oriel Road shortly before 6pm. There were around 40 friends and family gathered and police blocked the road off for more than an hour."

Formal identification of the remains is yet to take place, but police representatives have since informed Jamie's family of the discovery. A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”

The teenager was last seen at around 1.30pm on Sunday in the Greenloanings area of Kirkcaldy, with his disappearance said to be very out of character. Jamie was one of two Scots reported missing in Fife on Sunday, with search efforts also launched for Craig Brown.

The 40-year-old went missing at around 11am, and police issued an appeal for information that could lead to his location on the same day as it was believed he may have travelled to the Edinburgh area. A Police Scotland spokesperson said he was found "safe and well" on Monday.