Twin brothers charged with murder of charity cyclist

Tony Parsons' body was discovered near the A82 at Bridge of Orchy in January.

Twin brothers have been charged with the murder of charity cyclist Tony Parsons.

Alexander and Robert McKellar, aged 29, were also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice when they appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Mr Parsons, from Tillicoultry, was last seen during a bike ride in September 2017 outside the Bridge of Orchy Hotel in Argyll and Bute.

His remains were found by the A82 near a farm in Bridge of Orchy in January.

Mr Parsons' funeral was held at Stirlingshire Crematorium in April.

His son Mike said in a statement issued shortly afterwards: "We still need answers to many questions surrounding my dad's death."

Extensive searches

The brothers were further charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Parsons. Alexander McKellar was also individually charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Mr Parsons, a former navy officer who was 63 when he went missing, was last seen outside the hotel at about 23:30 on Friday 29 September.

He then continued south along the A82 in the direction of Tyndrum but there were no more sightings of him after that.

Extensive searches were carried out in the area, involving local mountain rescue teams, volunteers, Police Scotland dogs and the force's air support unit.

Mr Parsons had caught the train to Fort William on the day he was last seen with the intention of cycling the 104-mile (167km) journey home to Tillicoultry.

Alexander and Robert McKellar were committed for further examination and remanded in custody.