Man Charged With Paige Doherty Murder

26 March 2016, 13:16 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 15-year-old Paige Doherty.

John Leathem, 31, made no plea during a private hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court and was remanded in custody.

A police search was launched when Paige, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, was reported missing on the morning of Saturday March 19.

Her body was found two days later in bushes at the side of Great Western Road, a busy route connecting Clydebank and Glasgow.

The search for Paige began after she failed to arrive at a hairdressers where she had a part-time job.

On Thursday, Police Scotland revealed that a 31-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the girl's death.

The arrest followed intense police activity in the areas around where Paige was last seen and where her body was eventually found.

Specialist forensic officers had been searching the Delicious Deli in Clydebank's Fleming Avenue, and examining a property in a nearby street.

In an earlier statement released via police, Paige's mother, Pamela Munro said: "We are absolutely devastated that we have lost our beautiful little girl.''

A memorial event arranged on social media for the teenager is expected to be held on Saturday.

People are due to turn out at Whitecrook Park in Clydebank to pay tribute to the schoolgirl.

It comes after the landmark Titan Crane in Clydebank was lit pink on Thursday evening In memory of her.

Provost Douglas McAllister said: ''Our community is in shock at this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with Paige's family and friends. This is a small gesture of support for everyone who knew Paige.''

Two fundraising pages to help her family meet funeral costs and other expenses collected more than £23,000 a day after they were set up.