The dad of missing Allan Bryant has been left crushed after cops said a human bone found near a Scots golf course did not belong to their son.
Allan Snr says a part of him 'hoped it was him' so his family could find peace more than seven years after his son went missing at the age of 23.
Police had been in contact with the dad after they discovered a human bone around 7.30pm on Sunday, April 4, near Castle Golf Club in St Andrews.
But in a heartbreaking update, Allan Snr said police confirmed they did not believe it belonged to the missing man.
It is understood that the bone is historical.
Allan Senior told the Record the possibility it belonged to his son brought back memories of September when human remains were discovered on the Whitehills industrial estate in Glenrothes.
The family hoped the find would be Allan, but police later identified them as belonging to Ean Coutts.
Allan said: "I first heard about the find when a friend sent me a news article through social media and the police got in touch.
"I wasn't sure it was him but a part of me was hoping it was so we would have some answers at last.
"This has been very hard for us as a family, especially after everything we went through in September where we thought it might have been him as well.
"The conversation we had seemed to indicate the bone was historic.
"It is definitely not my son Allan. The bones are much older."
He wrote on Facebook: "Hi everyone. I got a phone call from the police they do not believe the human bone or bones that where found near St Andrews belong to our missing son Allan or any other missing person's the bones maybe much older or from a long time ago.
"Thank you all so much for your kind comments and your word's of support over the past two day's the fight to find our son Allan continues.
"Below is the link for our missing son Allan's Facebook page thank you."
Allan Jnr was last seen on CCTV outside Styx nightclub on Caskieberran Road shortly after 2am on Sunday, November 3, 2013.
Despite extensive enquiries, and his family tirelessly campaigning for answers, no trace of him has even been found.
Police Scotland confirmed enquiries into the bone discovery remain ongoing.
A spokeswoman said: “Around 7.30 pm on Sunday, 4 April, 2021 police received a report of what appeared to be a human bone found near to Castle Golf Club, St Andrews.
"Officers are working with relevant partners to establish the full circumstances of the discovery and to determine the exact age of the bone."
