By Stewart Ross

AN INTENSIVE late-night search ended in tragedy when the body of a pensioner was found in north-east Fife last night.

The drama began when a man, believed to be in his 70s, parked his car in Tentsmuir Forest, by Leuchars, earlier in the day but failed to return.

The alarm was raised just after 8pm with Fife Police calling in other agencies to aid the coastal search.

Broughty Ferry lifeboat and their smaller inshore vessel were both despatched to the area that was the focus of the search while a coastguard team from St Andrews were also deployed.

A search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer, in Northumbria, was also called in to aid the operation but as it reached the area a body was spotted in the sea a short distance from the beach.

Just after 10pm the body was being recovered.