The Ellesmere Port Pioneer has been praised for helping to identify a body found in North Wales as that of a local pensioner.

Ronald Shaw, (71), disappeared from his bungalow in the Cheshire town on July 27 last year.

Despite numerous claimed sightings, police were never able to find him.

Then, on December 20, the Pioneer learned a body had been discovered in a field in Milwr, near Holywell – and it was the paper’s hunch that the remains could be those of the missing pensioner.

Having made contact with Ronald’s brother, Raymond, who lives in Liverpool, just days before, the paper’s chief reporter Chris Smith, (left), contacted him again to suggest the body could be that of Ronald.

The journalist put him in touch with North Wales coroner John Hughes, who subsequently formally identified the body as that of Ronald.

Raymond said later: “The Pioneer was right – the body found in North Wales was that of my brother.

“Ronald had been there for some time. We believe he died around August, but wasn’t found for ages.

“He didn’t like company so I’m not surprised he was found in such a deserted spot.

“It’s very sad but at least he’s found peace now.”

He added: “I must thank the Pioneer for helping us find Ronald and for all the help and support it has given us.

“Until the Pioneer told me about the body being found, the North Wales coroner didn’t know who it as.”

North Wales police are not treating the death as suspicious and have passed the file to the coroner.