Woman found on Arran

Police are investigating a woman after she went missing following a fraud probe into the charity where she volunteered.

Claire Paton was found safe on Arran after disappearing last Thursday (26 January).

It has since been disclosed her disappearance coincided with a fraud probe into a £38,000 shortfall in the finances of the Douglas Park Nursery in Largs where she volunteers.

She is also involved with Get2Grips with Grants, a Largs-based business that secures and sources funding for charities and social enterprises.

Police were called when another volunteer at the nursery looked into the accounts.

Paton is the wife of historian and former BBC presenter Chris Paton who refused to comment on the fraud allegations.

Louise McCarron, managing director of Get2 Grips with Grants, said: “All I can say is every single grant that out company has applied for, all the funds went to the client.

“When we apply for grant funding for clients, funds go straight to the client, nothing goes through our accounts.

“There is a situation but I can’t comment on the rest of it as there is a police investigation.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We can confirm an investigation is underway.”