The discovery of a propeller blade in a remote part of Arran, thought to be from a World War II plane, has sparked an investigation to identify its origin.

A contractor working for the National Trust for Scotland found the object in an isolated location in Coire a’ Bhradain, to the south-west of Goatfell, as he conducted peatland restoration in the area.

The finding of the propeller blade has left experts debating where it came from, as the location of the discovery falls outside the two previously known crash sites in the area.

Derek Alexander, head of archaeology at NTS, said: "We are intrigued by the discovery of the propeller blade, which certainly looks to be from a WWII plane.

"There are two previously known plane crash sites further up the glen, on the steep cliff side of Beinn Nuis, but this object was found outside the mapped spread of debris from both of these, which has caused some uncertainty about which aircraft they belong to.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

"The plane part was discovered when our contractor’s excavator bucket hit something solid and metallic.

"On closer inspection, we found it had been wrapped and tied in a potato sack, which added further intrigue to the find that lay some distance from the spread of the wreckage of the former crash sites.

"It may have been gathered during the clean-up of the site in the 1940s, immediately after the impact, or through subsequent work by the Trust in the 1980s.

"It’s too early to tell, but we are determined to get to the bottom of it.’

Kate Sampson, NTS senior ranger on Arran, added that the discovery demonstrates the importance of the Trust's work to protect Scotland’s cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

Kate said: "The findings were made during our charity’s work to restore peatland in Coire a’Bhradain.

"Our peatland restoration program not only helps to reinstate our beautiful landscapes but is also vital in helping to restore the peat’s carbon-storing properties to help mitigate climate change.

"I think our contractor was shocked when he saw the end of the potato sack sticking out of the bog, as his first thought was that it could be human remains.

"However, with careful excavation, the wrapped propeller was revealed with a rope still tied around it, and we suspect someone might have been dragging the propeller down the hill when it sunk deep into the peat, not to be recovered until now."