Community ‘devastated’ after man’s body found
POLICE searching for a man who has been missing for three weeks have discovered a body.
The body of a man was found near a brook on Marlas Road in Pyle, Bridgend, shortly after 7.30pm last Wednesday.
An appeal for information about the whereabouts of Alan Gowans, 49, from the North Cornelly area, was made a week after he went missing on August 24.
South Wales Police released a statement last Thursday after a man’s body was discovered in Pyle.
A statement said: “We can confirm that officers searching for missing person Alan Gowans have located a body.
“The body was discovered near a brook on Marlas Road, Pyle, shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 13.
“Formal identification has yet to take place but Mr Gowans’ next of kin have been informed of the discovery.
“The death is currently being treated as unex- plained while inquiries continue.”
Local residents said a cordon around the area was put in place, while the community is said to be “trying to get their heads around it”.
Pyle community councillor Gina Hooper said the area had been left “devastated” by the discovery of the body.
She said: “There have been a lot of people look- ing for [Mr Gowans]. The community have been left devastated about the body.”
Councillor Stephen Smith, who serves the Pyle ward for Bridgend council, said: “Thoughts go out to the family at a difficult time.
“There’s a lot of shock and there’s a large police presence.
“Everyone is just trying to get their heads around it.”