Vicky's funeral set for New Year

Michael Hamilton (centre) speaks to reporters outside court

The father of teenager Vicky Hamilton, whose body was found 16 years after she disappeared, said he plans to hold her funeral in the New Year.

Police have told Michael Hamilton that the 15-year-old's body could be returned within three weeks.

However, Mr Hamilton said he does not want to stage the funeral so close to Christmas.

Vicky, from Redding, near Falkirk, went missing in 1991. Peter Tobin, 61, has been charged with her murder.

Vicky's body was discovered at Mr Tobin's former home in Margate, Kent, last week.

Police later discovered the body of another missing teenager, Dinah McNicol, from Essex.

I had a visit from CID last night to say Vicky's body could be released in three weeks time but I've declined that offer Michael Hamilton Vicky's father

Accompanied by family and friends, Mr Hamilton spoke to reporters outside Linlithgow Sheriff Court where Mr Tobin was due to make a second appearance after being charged with Vicky's murder.

However, it was later announced that the court appearance had been delayed after the accused was assaulted in custody.

Mr Hamilton said Vicky would be buried at a cemetery in Polmont, near Falkirk, in the New Year.

He said: "I had a visit from CID last night to say Vicky's body could be released in three weeks' time but I've declined that offer.

'Two plots'

"I don't want to have to spend all my Christmases thinking that I buried my daughter at Christmas or just before, so we've asked the CID if we can hold it back until after Christmas and New Year.

"She will be buried in the local cemetery alongside me.

"I'm actually going to buy two plots and she'll be put in one and I'll be in the next one, when the time comes."

Asked about the discovery of his missing daughter's body, he said: "As I said all the years past, I knew she was dead, but I knew it was going to be a shock when I got told and it was a shock actually knowing where she had been lying."