THE body of a 21-year-old man who disappeared from Glasgow city centre more than six weeks ago has been pulled from the River Clyde.

Iain Nicolson was found close to the Renfrew Ferry, on the Broomielaw, yesterday afternoon.

A police spokeswoman said: "Inquiries are continuing to find out the full circumstances surrounding his death."

The discovery is a tragic end to weeks of agony for his family, of Culvain Avenue, Baljaffray, Bearsden, who had made public appeals to help find him.

His father, Donald, 50, said today: "This news is terrible, but in a way we were anticipating it because there had been no news in the past few weeks. But it doesn't take it away from what has happened.

"We are all devastated, particularly his mum Linda. I think I had prepared myself a bit more than her, but we can't believe we will never see him again.

"We were trying to hold on to that glimmer of hope. We are now trying to rally round and keep each other going."

Iain vanished after leaving Karbon nightclub in Buchanan Street early on Friday, February 2.

Closed-circuit TV film later showed him near Mitchell Lane about 1.05am. His parents called police the following day.

Four weeks after he disappeared, Mrs Nicolson, 51, made a plea to find him. His family also took to the streets in an attempt to help trace him.

An adtrailer displaying his photograph and contact details for a police incident room was also set up at Bearsden Cross.

The former Bearsden Academy pupil played with West of Scotland rugby club until about two years ago. At 6ft 3in and weighing 15 stone, he was described by friends as "a gentle giant."

This year he had been saving for a backpacking trip to Australia with sister Fiona, 20.

He also had another sister, Jennifer, 24.