Murder inquiry over body in field

The body was found in a field near Langbank

Police have launched a murder inquiry after a man's body was found in a field in Renfrewshire.

The victim has been named as 34-year-old Martin Toner from Pollokshields in Glasgow, who was reported missing by his wife at the end of June.

His body was discovered near Langbank at 0105 BST on Tuesday by a farmer, who was "shocked and stunned" at the find.

Strathclyde Police said that Mr Toner's death was being treated as murder following a post-mortem examination.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Bobby Shaw, launched an appeal for information.

He urged anyone who may have seen Mr Toner in the Langbank area after Tuesday 29 June, when he was reported missing by his wife, to come forward.

Dead body

The discovery was made by John Baxter, 47, while he was collecting bales of silage at North Glen farm.

The spotlights of his tractor showed up the body in the darkness at the edge of the field close to a road.

Mr Baxter said: "When I saw it I thought the worst. I knew it was a dead body.

"As the crow flies the body was no more than two or three metres from the tarmac.

"It is shocking not only for us but for all the neighbours, the small-knit community round about.

"When I saw it there was a degree of shock, plus I was stunned to think of that in my neighbourhood."