Ben Needham: Police end latest search for missing boy in Kos

Search over: Police end latest Ben Needham search
PA
Jamie Micklethwaite16 October 2016

Police have ended the latest search for clues into the disappearance of toddler Ben Needham on the island of Kos.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police and volunteers from the Greek island have been excavating land around the old farmhouse where the 21 month old was last seen playing on July 24 1991.

But despite three weeks of searching and several other investigations, no trace of the Sheffield youngster has not been found.

A post on the official Find Ben Needham Facebook page reads: “South Yorkshire Police, Operation Ben team, the Hellenic Search and Rescue team, huge thank you to each and everyone of you.

“Also to the media that has followed the case of missing Ben Needham for the last 25 years and special thank you to the ITV Calendar News team who have been consistently by the Needham family's side since the beginning in 1991. xXx

“Please everyone remember the items found will now be analysed, so although there may seem to be no answers as yet hopefully we should have news on what exactly was found soon.”

Dig: The scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire Police continue excavations.
PA

Hundreds of tons of earth from an olive grove next to the building was raked through as investigators searched for any clues which may help identify what happened to Ben.

Forensic anthropologists, who worked in the aftermath of the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorist attacks have also examined animal bone fragments and other small items recovered from the site.

Negotiations: Police are in talks with the family who owns the farmhouse.
PA

The Facebook message adds:“This search wasn't done on a whim after just ONE witness statement. The Operation Ben team were already following this line of enquiry after going through 25 years of information and witness statements.

“The new witness statement just corroborated the info SYP already had and was a targeted search - not a wild goose chase.

“The Police and the Hellenic Search and Rescue team have our utmost respect and can't really thank them enough.As Kerry has already said- they are heroes.”

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: "The physical search of two sites on Kos, Greece has formally come to an end.

"Work continues behind the scenes as officers begin to process the findings from each site."

The force said a full update will be released from the team on the island at midday UK time on Monday.

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