The body of a young girl has been found on the Isle of Bute.
Police said a female child's body was discovered in woods at about 09:00 on Monday.
Police were alerted that a six-year-old girl was missing from a house in Ardbeg at 06:25 on Monday.
The body was discovered in the grounds of a former hotel on Ardbeg Road. A spokeswoman for Police Scotland confirmed that an inquiry had been launched.
John Morrison, a local property developer, was shocked at the news.
He told the BBC: "When I came out here about three hours ago, first I saw the police barriers about 500 yards back on the road.
"When I went down into my site I got a phonecall from my partner telling me a wee girl had been missing and she had been found dead. It was a horrible shock.
"Then just after that more police started to come, men in the white suits, and a van full of police who I take it had been searching earlier.
"The rumour was she had been found in the Kyles Hydro Estate which is over at the back."
Mr Morrison said the community had been affected by what happened: "Terrible, terrible. We are going to know the family or someone connected with them," he said. "It brings it right home, it is such a shock. I feel so sorry for the family at this moment in time."
Well-wishers have started to leave flowers near the police cordon.
The police spokeswoman said: "At around 06:25, police were informed a six-year-old girl was missing.
"A search was undertaken to try and locate the child.
"At around 09:00 the body of a young female child was discovered in the grounds of an old hotel.
"An investigation has been launched and inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident."