Canal clues in hunt for Moira
POLICE searching for the body of missing schoolgirl Moira Anderson have identified five areas of interest following the search of a canal.
A full scientific examination of Monkland Canal at a site at Carnbroe, North Lanarkshire has been carried out by Police Scotland.
Detectives say the four-day operation in the 3.5-metre deep water resulted in five distinct areas of anomalies being identified by specialist teams.
Eleven-year-old Moira disappeared after leaving her grandmother’s house in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on February 23, 1957 to buy margarine from the nearby Co-op. She never returned and was reported missing later that night.
A police spokesman said: “Over the last four days, ground penetrating radar, sonar scanning and magnetometry have been used to identify anomalies within the water and silt layer of the canal.
“The conclusion of this first scoping phase has resulted in five distinct areas of anomalies being identified by specialist resources.”
Among the experts who have been involved in the operation are soil forensics experts and representatives from the National Crime Agency.
The second phase of the search begins on Monday, with divers from Police Scotland’s Marine Unit conducting a search of the identified areas.
Police Scotland and the former Strathclyde Police worked with the Crown Office and procurator fiscal to investigate her disappearance and examine any new evidence.