A missing person search ended with a grim double discovery as two bodies were recovered from the foot of Kinnoull Hill, near Perth.
Officers from Police Scotland had been investigating reports of avulnerable person at thepopular beauty spot.
The family of a 55-year-old Perth man had raised the alarm at around 8am on Monday.
Aided by a specialistmountain rescue team, officersspent several hours searchingfor any sign of the man. But during their investigation the teams were horrified to discover not one but two bodies in a heavily wooded area.
The remains were recovered from the hill and transported by private ambulance to the police mortuary in Dundee where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
Police Scotland said the two individuals were not linked and would not confirm whether one was the missing man.
There had been no further missing person reports that could be tied in to the other body and it is not known how long it had lain at the scene.
A spokesperson said: “There is no known connection between the bodies and there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.
“Positive lines of inquiry are beingconducted with regard to the identity of each individual and efforts to inform next of kin will be made.”