Memorial for head-on-beach victim

Flowers were laid and pebbles scattered in honour of Jolanta Bledaite

A memorial service has been held for the Lithuanian woman whose head and hands were found on Arbroath beach.

About 200 people attended the ceremony in honour of Jolanta Bledaite, 35, on the same beach where her head was found in a plastic bag by two young sisters.

The Vygaueas Usackas, the Lithuanian ambassador, joined mourners.

Two men, also from Lithuania, have been charged with murdering Ms Bledaite, who had been staying in Brechin as a migrant worker.

The service took the form of a Roman Catholic mass, conducted by the Reverend Kevin Golden, priest of St Thomas RC church in Dishlandtown Street, Arbroath.

It is hard to imagine how such a thing could have happened in this wonderful place Vygaueas Usackas Lithuanian ambassador

Mourners gathered around a small table on which sat a framed black and white photograph of Ms Bledaite, a crucifix and a collection of pebbles from her grandmother's garden in Lithuania. The pebbles were later blessed and scattered on the beach.

Mr Usackas said: "I wanted to attend today to extend my warmest thanks on behalf of all the people of Lithuania for the sympathy and moral and financial support received.

"It is hard to imagine how such a thing could have happened in this wonderful place.

"I met with the family in Lithuania just yesterday and they are as moved as I am about what people have done here in Arbroath."

Ms Bledaite's head was found by two young sisters playing on the beach on 1 April.

Police searching the shoreline then found her hands.

Pay respects

On 5 April, a suitcase containing her body parts was pulled from Arbroath harbour.

Local woman Sue Smith, who works with migrants in the area, organised the memorial.

She said: "It was a lovely service and I am just so happy that everyone turned up."

Vaidas Dieninis, 28, who is from Lithuania and currently working in Arbroath, did not know Ms Bledaite put wanted to pay respects.

He said: "It was a very, very good service and I really appreciate that it was done."

Jean Dear, 70, from Arbroath, said: "What's happened has just left everybody shattered but I hope something like this will turn everyone around for the good."