A murder inquiry has been launched after a man’s body was discovered at a house in a rural Perthshire village.
Dozens of police descended on the property at Balbeggie after the grim find was reported by a member of the public at around midday on Thursday afternoon.
Police confirmed that the 49-year-old’s death was being treated as suspicious.
A force spokesman said: “Next of kin have been informed and enquiries are at an early stage.”
The victim was named locally as independent jeweller Alan Gardner, who lived on his own at the £113,400 house in Croft Park.
Originally from Wishaw in North Lanarkshire, he had moved into the property with his wife Jennifer about six years ago.
The pair separated in 2013 and she moved out of the area.
Neighbours said that Mr Gardner, who ran his own jewellery repairs business, spent much of his time in his shed, fixing and restoring customers’ bracelets, bangles, brooches and watch-straps.
Mr Gardner, a father-of-one, was known to have epilepsy which had become so serious he had declared to friends he was going to stop driving.
However, neighbours said he occasionally still drove to the supermarket at nearby Scone in his souped-up vehicle.
One neighbour said: “Its a real shame. He spent an awful lot of time on his own, with no one to talk to.
“It was starting to effect him. Last I saw him, he was talking about all sorts of conspiracy theories, about planes dropping poison over our houses.”
He said that friends would sometimes visit the house, but Mr Gardner “kept himself to himself.”
Another resident said: “Its shocking to hear something like this happening in a place like Balbeggie.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a policeman here for years and now the street is full of them.”
At one point during yesterday’s investigation, there were eight police cars, two vans and incident unit.
The entrance to Croft Park was cordoned off, while forensic officers carried out a search of Mr Gardner’s property.