Man charged with biker's murder

Mr Alexander went missing in 1999

Police have charged a man with the murder of a biker who went missing eight years ago.

The 36-year-old was arrested by detectives investigating the disappearance of Adam Alexander, from Errol in Perthshire.

He vanished in November 1999 and police recently launched a murder inquiry after receiving information to suggest he had been killed.

An area near an old brick works at Errol was being searched for his body.

Tayside Police said the arrest was the result of intensive police enquiries over the last few weeks and a report had been sent to the procurator fiscal in Perth.

A special Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (Holmes) unit had been set up in Perth to assist detectives with their investigation into Mr Alexander's disappearance.

Black Volvo

The 46-year-old failed to keep an appointment to sell his bike at his home in Errol on 14 November, 1999 and had not been seen since.

Police had appealed for help from the public in their efforts to find out what happened to Mr Alexander.

Police search a field close to an old brick works near Errol

Det Ch Insp Roddy Ross said there were still unanswered questions in the case.

He said: "The public have a role to play because I firmly believe there are people out there, in and around Perth, who do know information that would be helpful to us to exactly establish what happened to Adam."

In particular, officers wanted to find out who was driving Mr Alexander's car in the days after he vanished.

The black Volvo was seen in the area around Perth Royal Infirmary, and was left in Hamilton Place.

Mr Ross said: "There was a man seen leaving the car who didn't fit the general description of Adam.

"He was walking quickly, almost running it's been described to us, so we're really anxious still to trace that man and identify who he was."

Police have also been trying to find Mr Alexander's distinctive motorcycle leathers.

Officers set up an appeal for information on the popular internet site MySpace.