Police were last night contacting the next of kin of missing person after a body was discovered on the shores of the Moray Firth.
The remains were spotted by a member of the public at Nairn’s West Beach early yesterday morning.
The body, believed to be that of a man, has yet to be identified.
It was found on the beach between the town’s Seabank Road and Marine Road, close to a promenade running along the seafront.
Police were seen in the area from around 7.30am and the body was removed later in the morning.
An eyewitness whose home overlooks the beach said she could partly see the body from her house but had not been aware of it until her son saw police working in the area.
The operation involved forensic officers who examined the scene before the remains were removed.
Police closed-off the promenade to the public.
The eyewitness said she watched as the forensics officers worked at the scene.
She said: “They came up to the house and told us to draw the curtains because my grandson was watching from the window.
“That was obviously when they were going to move the body. That would have been about 10.30am or 11am.”
A police spokesman said: “Following a report from a member of the public this morning, a body has been recovered from the shoreline at Nairn beach.
“Police are contacting next of kin for all current missing people.
“A further update will be issued when formal identification is complete.”
A high profile search has been ongoing since January for Polish man Marek Michalak who was reported missing after falling into the River Ness from the Greig Street Bridge.