Missing doctor's vehicle traced

The doctor's family said he was overworked and under stress

Police in the north east of Scotland have found the car belonging to missing Edinburgh doctor David Hughes.

Dr Hughes, 37, a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, went missing after a night shift at St John's Hospital, Livingston, last week.

Grampian Police confirmed that the silver Mondeo car was found at the Linn of Quoich beauty spot on Tuesday.

The doctor's family said he had been under work stress and had been told to report for naval service in the Gulf.

Members of the RAF Kinloss, Grampian Police and Braemar Mountain rescue teams, and three search and rescue dogs, have been taking part in the operation in the southern Cairngorms.

They have been assisted by a search and rescue helicopter.

TV appeal

Dr Hughes's family have been informed of the discovery.

Dr Hughes, a father-of-three who is originally from Devon, was last seen finishing work at 0900 BST on Wednesday and later called his wife Joanne to say he was going hillwalking.

She made an emotional TV appeal, urging him to return home and emphasising that she was not angry with him.

"I just want to know that you are safe," she said. "We are all extremely worried about your safety and I just want to see you and to talk to you."

She said her husband had been "fed up with work" and unhappy with his life in general.

Dr Hughes's car was found at the Linn of Quoich

"I love you very much, please come home," she said, adding that Dr Hughes's three children were missing him.

The couple, who are originally from Newton Abbot in Devon, moved to Scotland about four years ago.

Dr Hughes completed his medical training at Dundee University six years ago before joining the navy as a medic.

He has been working as an anaesthetist at St John's Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian while on a Navy placement to train to be a consultant.

Dr Hughes had previously served for three months in Iraq in 2003 and was due to return to Basra in January 2008.

His brother Matt said his disappearance was out of character.

Mrs Hughes's last contact with her husband was when he sent her a text in the Wednesday afternoon to say he was going to camp out overnight.

He was last seen wearing a green fleece, navy blue Rohan trousers and trainers and his family believe he may have taken a tent and hillwalking equipment with him.