Toenail bid to identify human leg

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Police hope a toenail clipping could help identify a man whose leg was washed up on a beach.

Forensic experts have been called in to help detectives over the body part which was discovered in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee in March.

Tests on a toenail proved that the man, who was aged 16-25, had stayed in colder countries such as Denmark and Finland before his death.

A DNA profile from the sample has now been passed to police across Europe.

Tayside Police hope that a match will be found and the mystery man identified.

The leg, with foot still attached, was found on the shore at Beach Crescent on 20 March.

Pathologists said it had probably been in the water for months and traces of denim proved he had been wearing blue jeans.

The man had also been wearing size 9 black Reebok trainers and black Umbro sports socks.

Police hope the trainer will help to identify the man

Tests by scientists at Queen's University in Belfast found that the man had stayed in three different regions prior to his death.

The procedure, known as Stable Isotope Profiling, was carried out by Dr Wolfram Meier-Augenstein,

He found that the man probably stayed in the UK or Ireland before travelling to colder climates.

Det Sgt Kevin McMahon said: "The most recent geographic location lived in continuously for 13 months was indicative of a climactic zone and latitude encountered in the southern parts of Scandinavia and the corresponding part of the Baltic region.

"What is even more fascinating is that he was able to tell us that around 16 months prior to the death of the man a change in the profile indicates a short stay in a region with an even colder climate, possibly on the same latitude as Oslo or Helsinki.

"At months 17, 15 and 14 prior to death, the results possibly indicate brief stays at yet another location with the characteristics of a 'halfway house' between the UK, Ireland and Central Europe and the Baltic region, which points towards countries like Denmark."