Body found by police

Julie Tennant was last seen on 5 August

Police investigating the disappearance of a missing County Antrim woman have found a body in a rural area near Broughshane.

The remains were found in a shallow grave in undergrowth on the Tullymore Road by police searching for Julie Tennant who has been missing for almost three weeks.

At this stage police are not saying whether the remains are those of the missing woman but have confirmed they are now engaged in a murder enquiry.

Julie, 21, from Mount Street in Ballymena was last seen in the company of a group of men in the centre of the town on Saturday 5 August.

An army helicopter assisted RUC officers and a mountain rescue team in their search of the area.

A man being questioned by police about the disappearance is still in custody. The man was detained in England.

Thursday's development comes after police cordoned off a house in the town on Tuesday.

Waterways searched

Forensic scientists went to the Warden Street area of Ballymena and a detailed search was carried out.

The police also searched waterways and outhouses for the missing woman.

Earlier in the week, the police issued a fresh appeal for information on her whereabouts.

They said they believed Julie was last seen at between 0200 BST and 0300 BST in William Street, Broughshane Street and Suffolk Street in Ballymena town centre.

Detectives said that at that time she had spoken to a number of people.