Fishing boat crew finds body

The vessel was found partially submerged

A body has been recovered near Oban almost three weeks after two men went missing in the area.

Lorne MacDougall, 22, and 30-year-old Paul McArtney have not been seen since New Year's Eve, when their creel boat got into difficulties.

The partially submerged vessel was discovered four miles north west of Oban.

The relatives of the two missing men have been made aware

Police spokesman

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said a body was found by a fishing vessel on Sunday night and brought back to Oban Harbour.

The discovery was made near Maiden Island, north of Oban Bay.

"It has not yet been identified and a post-mortem examination will be carried out on Tuesday," he said.

"The relatives of the two missing men have been made aware."

A Clyde Coastguard spokesman said it had received a call from the Ocean Vanguard, which said it had caught a body in its nets.

"The boat was met at Oban Harbour by the coastguard sector officer and the police," he said.

Text message

Mr MacDougall and Mr McArtney went missing while fishing for crabs on the Kirsteen Anne.

The last communication from the vessel was a text message sent to the father of one of the men on New Year's Eve.

The 21ft vessel has since been raised and taken to a local boat yard for examination.

The search for the two men - which involved divers from Strathclyde Police, mountain rescue teams and two rescue helicopters - was officially called off on 4 January.

However, coastguard teams, local fishermen and the men's families have continued to monitor the coastline.