Body in Kilmarnock believed to be missing Hazel North
Man, 25, arrested in Hazel North inquiry
(about 4 hours later)
A body found in a park in Kilmarnock is believed to be that of missing Fife teenager Hazel North, police have said.
A 25-year-old man has been arrested by police in connection with the death of Fife teenager Hazel North.
The remains were recovered in the Ayrshire town's Dean Park.
Earlier, officers said they had found a body in a park in Kilmarnock.
Ms North, 19, from Dunfermline, last contacted her sister on 4 March and said she was meeting a male friend in Kilmarnock, about 60 miles away. She was reported missing on Friday.
The remains were recovered in the Ayrshire town's Dean Park, which police had been searching since Sunday.
Police have been questioning a man from Kilmarnock, named locally as John Davis, 25, as a witness in the inquiry.
Ms North, from Dunfermline, last contacted her sister on 4 March and said she was meeting a male friend in Kilmarnock, about 60 miles away. She was reported missing on Friday.
The area where the remains were found is close to Mr Davis' house in Northcraig Road which was searched by officers on Friday. Nothing suspicious was found.
The body was taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow for a post-mortem examination to be carried out on Tuesday.
The human remains were taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow for a post-mortem examination to be carried out on Tuesday.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a 25-year-old man has been arrested and is presently detained in police custody in connection with her death. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."
Ch Supt Gillian MacDonald said: "I can confirm that as part of the ongoing Hazel North missing person inquiry, officers have carried out a detailed search and excavation of an area within Dean Park, Kilmarnock, and the body of a young woman has been found.
The man arrested by police is expected to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
"We believe this to be Hazel North. Hazel's family has been advised of this and officers are supporting them at this difficult time.
"A full forensic examination of the site remains ongoing and a post-mortem examination will take place tomorrow to establish the exact cause of death.
"I can confirm that a number of people have been spoken to in connection with the inquiry into Hazel's disappearance and these inquiries are very much ongoing."
Police began the search in Dean Park on Sunday night.
It came two days after forensic officers conducted a search of Mr Davis' house and garden in Northcraig Road.
On Saturday, police made an appeal over a possible sighting of Ms North in Stranraer's Coronation Drive on Tuesday 18 March.
She was understood to have previously spent time in the Stranraer area, living with family.
