'Shallow grave' report in hunt for missing loyalist

Police hunting for missing loyalist Alan McCullough launched a search in Co Antrim today amid reports of a shallow grave being spotted.

The operation was centred around Aughnabrack Road in Mallusk just north of Belfast.

A police spokesman said the search had been mounted as a result of “information received by police”.

There were unconfirmed reports of a shallow grave being found in the area.

The 21-year-old has not been seen since he was driven away from his Belfast home on Wednesday evening last week and police have expressed the fear that he was murdered by the loyalist Ulster Defence Association.