Body found in hunt for Team GB runner Chris Smith who vanished on run two days ago

A body has been found in the search for a missing fell runner who was part of Team GB, Police Scotland said.

Chris Smith set off on a run from Invervar near Aberfeldy at around 3pm on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old was aiming to tackle a route including four Munros - Meall nan Aighean, Carn Mairg, Meall Garbh and Carn Gorm - before returning at 5pm.

In a statement, Police Scotland said that at around 11.50am on Thursday the body of a man was found near to Meall Garbh in the Glenlyon area.

It added: "Formal identification has yet to take place, however the family of missing 43-year-old Chris Smith has been informed.

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Chris Smith was not seen since Tuesday (PA)

"Enquiries remain ongoing and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course."

Chris' wife Lindsay and their two children, became concerned when the 43-year-old did not return and called emergency services.

It sparked a search-and-rescue operation involving mountain rescue teams, Police Scotland and the Coastguard.

Before the tragic discovery today, Chris's cousin Ruth McKee said: "The whole family is so grateful for all the search-and-rescue team operations.

Chris was running a route which would have taken him through the Cairn Gorm Area (Getty)

"We just want to make sure that no-one forgets Chris' face."

His family was concerned he may have become disorientated during his fell run and ended up further than he aimed to be.  

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said officers in Perthshire and mountain rescue teams were carrying out searches in the Glenlyon area.

Emergency services were being helped by the Coastguard helicopter.

Chris was an experienced and decorated mountain runner.

He competed for Great Britain in international mountain running competitions, including the 2016 European Mountain Running Championships.

Team GB won bronze in the tournament, held in Italy.

Hailing from Aberdeenshire, he had been living in Haywards Heath in West Sussex.

He was a member of Thames Valley Harriers athletics club, who put out an appeal on behalf of his family.

It is understood he went missing while on holiday with his family - his wife and two sons.

In a statement on the athletics club's website, Chris’s brother-in-law Billy Milligan said: “Chris is an experienced fell runner and dad of two boys who are missing him so much.

"He went out to run Meall nan Aighean, Carn Mairg, Meall Garbh and Carn Gorm yesterday at 3pm, leaving from Invervar, and should have been back at 5pm. 

"He may have become disorientated and ended up further afield.”