Body of man discovered in woodland near Stirling Published duration 19 April 2013

image caption David O'Halloran was last seen in Bridge of Allan on 18 January

The body of a man has been found in woodland above Bridge of Allan, near Stirling, police have confirmed.

Searches in the Bridge of Allan area have been carried out since Stirling University student David O'Halloran went missing in January.

Police Scotland said inquiries into the discovery of the body were at an early stage.

No further information will be given out until the dead man's identity has been established.

The 18-year-old mathematics student was last seen on Henderson Street in Bridge of Allan at about 02:20 on 18 January.

Following Mr O'Halloran's disappearance his mother Donna, 41, set up a Facebook page in the hopes of tracing his whereabouts.

Broken hearts

On Thursday night she posted a message that "David's body has been found".

She said: "Our hearts are broken but they have been broken since the beginning, as we knew our boy and knew 100% that he had not ran away, he loved us too much to ever even have thought of that, he never had to run away from us or "take time out" in his whole life."

A police spokesman said: "The Forth Valley Division of Police Scotland can confirm that the body of a male was discovered today in woodland above Bridge of Allan.