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Police Scotland is planning to trial the use of two drones.

One is to be based in Inverness and the other in Aberdeen and would be used in different operations, including searches for missing people.

The Scottish Police Authority board is to be informed of the plan at its meeting on Tuesday.

Police Scotland hopes to have the drones operational in March and available to units, including road policing, and to armed police officers.

Extensive searches

A small drone was used by police in 2015 in the search for a hillwalker who went missing in the north west Highlands.

Kilmarnock-born Eric Cyl, 62, was last seen heading off into the Mamore mountain range near Fort William.

Extensive searches by mountain rescue teams were made of the area, including Ring of Steall and Steall Falls.

Police Scotland used the drone for taking aerial images which could be examined for signs of Mr Cyl. He remains missing.