No human remains have been found by police hunting for missing Mary Bastholm under a cafe in Gloucester.
The site has been excavated by officers searching for the teenager who is a long suspected victim of serial killer Fred West.
Mary, 15, was last seen alive in January 1968 and worked as a waitress at the Pop-In cafe, now known as the Clean Plate.
Detectives believed West could have buried her in the basement of the cafe, which is on Southgate Street.
However, a thorough examination of the site found no human remains.
“Excavation work at the Clean Plate cafe has now been completed and we can confirm no human remains or items of significance to the investigation have been found,” Gloucestershire Police said.
“Mary’s family have been updated and is continuing to receive support from family liaison officers.”
Digging began on May 19 after six “voids” were discovered under the cafe cellar where it was feared Mary’s body might be buried.
The tip came from a TV production company which had spotted a cavity in the floor underneath the basement toilet. A cadaver dog also indicated there may be something suspicious within the void.
Expert forensic archaeologists and anthropologists identified the “anomalies” ahead of the excavation work.
Officers were seen carrying objects including a number of wooden doors out of the cafe. Matter from the basement was analysed on site, meticulously logged and photographed.
A team was able to determine that the remaining areas of the cellar had been undisturbed since prior to 1968, when Mary was last seen.
The café will be handed back to its owners once reparation work is completed.
Further statements from the constabulary and Mary’s family will be issued later on Thursday.
Fred and wife Rose West, 67, tortured, raped and murdered an unknown number of women over a 20-year period.
Detectives did not rule out the possibility that Rose West could be quizzed about Mary’s disappearance.
West took his own life aged 53 in 1995 before he could stand trial for the murders of 12 girls and women.
He was a regular at the Pop-In Cafe.
A senior detective said the notorious killer would have been interviewed by police in connection with Mary’s disappearance if he were still alive.
