POLICE have begun digging in a remote area of Argyll in the search for the remains of a woman who was murdered in West Kilbride more than a decade ago.

It was announced last month that police would carry out a search of a remote area in Argyll in a hunt for the remains of Lynda Spence, who was brutally murdered  at an address in the village in 2011.

The search was announced on March 16, and police say it will take an extensive period of time because of the detailed nature of the operation.

This latest development, following an initial assessment of the search area, will see specialist teams from across the UK involved in the investigation.

READ MORE: Lynda Spence: Detective recalls challenges of West Kilbride case

Detective Superintendent Suzanne Chow said: “A detailed assessment of the location has been completed and we have now commenced digging to further explore the site for potential evidence.

“This will be an extremely detailed operation, involving specialist search teams from Police Scotland, forensic scientists and soil experts from across the United Kingdom.

 “The family of Lynda Spence are being kept updated as efforts to establish if her remains are within this area continue.

“I would ask anyone with information to please come forward and speak to officers.”

Colin Coats and Philip Wade were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013 for the murder of Ms Spence, receiving minimum jail terms of 33 years and 30 years respectively - two of the longest handed out by Scottish courts.

Prosecutors have been unable to say exactly when or how she was murdered, but Coats boasted to a cellmate that he smothered her, cut off her head and burnt her remains in a furnace. Ms Spence's body was never recovered.