POLICE searching for a missing pensioner have confirmed that skeletal remains found on a river embankment in West Lothian are human.
The remains were discovered yesterday on the edge of the River Almond at Craigshill, Livingston, on Tuesday, by police scouring the area.
Mary Ferns disappeared on 17 June 2008 after going to buy socks from Almondvale Shopping Centre.
It is believed she got on a bus as family members identified her through CCTV images on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.
That was the last known sighting of the then 88-year-old.
Detective Inspector Phil Gachagan said it was too early to confirm whether the remains were those of Mrs Ferns, but added that the body had been discovered after police had received new information in connection with her disappearance.
Speaking from the site of the grim discovery, DCI Gachagan said: “This was part of a search that was being carried out following new information with regards to Mary Ferns.
“We scoped out various areas along the banks of the River Almond until we found what I can now
confirm as human remains.”
