Vigil to ‘celebrate and commemorate’ teenager

A vigil to “commemorate and celebrate” teenager Cole Cooper will be held in his home village on Sunday.

The 19-year-old’s relatives were told that a body had been found in a wooded area near Banknock, Falkirk, on 6 June, four weeks after he was last seen.

Cole’s aunt Aimee Tennie said that the vigil would take place in the grounds of the Glenskirly Hotel in Banknock from 19:00.

She said it was for “everyone who has supported Cole since his disappearance, including friends, family, the community and beyond.”

In a post on social media, Ms Tennie said: “There are very little words left to express the trauma we have endured the past several weeks, but there are many to describe how incredible our Cole was.

“Please join us in remembering Cole.”

Cole’s family had previously thanked all those who had supported them and joined searches for the teenager, and said they were left with many unanswered questions.

Police Scotland said Cole’s death was being treated as unexplained.

Cole was reported missing on Friday 9 May, two days after police said a witness saw him in the nearby village of Longcroft, near Banknock.

He had been captured on CCTV at several locations in Longcroft in the early hours of Sunday 4 May after leaving a party in Denny.

Officers spoke to almost 400 residents through door-to-door inquiries and more than 2,000 hours of CCTV were gathered.