Mourners to wear blue for farewell to Cole Cooper

Friends and family of Cole Cooper are attending the teenager’s funeral in Bonnybridge.

The 19-year-old was reported missing in May sparking a major search operation.

His body was discovered four weeks later in woods near Kilsyth Road in Banknock.

A funeral mass will take place at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bonnybridge, near Falkirk, followed by a celebration of life at Bannockburn crematorium.

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 gathered more than 2,000 hours of footage.

However, his relatives were told that a body had been found on 6 June, four weeks after he was last seen.

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

Two days after the his body was discovered, hundreds gathered for a vigil at Glenskirlie Hotel in Banknock.

Family set off blue smoke canisters to indicate Cole’s favourite colour.

On social media, his aunt Aimee Tennie said the family wanted people to wear blue to the funeral service.

She also thanked those who supported the family and invited them to say goodbye.

Ms Tennie added: “We are deeply grateful for the continued support we have received from you all throughout this horrifying time.

“For everyone that has followed Cole’s story, for those whom his story has touched the hearts of, for those who have shared, liked and commented during his disappearance, for those that attended his searches, for those who provided us with information, for those who may have known Cole, and for his friends.

“We would be honoured to have you all there.”

She said there were still “many unanswered questions” during an “incredibly difficult” time.

She added: “Although incredibly heart-breaking and unfair this has been for Cole, we want this to be a celebration of his life.

“Forever 19 and he had forever to go.”

She said that his family wanted his funeral to celebrate his 19 years and show his “funny, charming, and loving” personality.