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River search in west of Scotland ends as missing child's body is found

The body of a schoolgirl has been found in the west of Scotland after a major search - Stuart Nicol photography
The body of a schoolgirl has been found in the west of Scotland after a major search - Stuart Nicol photography

A search for a girl missing in the water in the west of Scotland has ended with police finding the 12-year-old's body.

In a statement, Police Scotland said officers were called after reports that the girl was in difficulty in the River Leven, near Balloch Bridge, at about 6.45pm on Sunday.

Police said: "Emergency services attended and searches were carried out. Around 9.45pm, the young girl was recovered from the water. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene."

Earlier, West Dunbartonshire Police, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency all confirmed they were involved in the search and asked the public to avoid the area.

The child's family have been informed of her death and enquiries are ongoing, but police are not treating the death as suspicious. A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.