25 years ago Ben Needham disappeared while on holiday on the Greek island of Kos.
Ever since the day her little boy vanished, Kerry Needham has campaigned tirelessly for police to continue investigating Ben’s disappearance, in hope that he is still alive.
However, police now fear Ben could have been killed whilst on the Greek island of Kos, where his grandparents were renovating a farmhouse.
A fresh excavation of farmland near the farmhouse began yesterday (26 September) following a new witness’ claims that a digger may have killed Ben in 1991.
Police have now revealed that since starting the excavation, they have found a “vast number” of animal bones and small pieces of fabric that are of “slight interest”.
The team of 19 South Yorkshire Police officers, forensic specialists and an archaeologist have been searching the sites, which have been used for farming for generations.
Ben’s family believe that he was abducted and the little boy was last seen playing on the land being dug up close by.
Police are now investigating whether Ben was accidentally run over and killed by a bulldozer.
Detective Inspector Jon Cousins has said the team has been joined by local search and rescue volunteers and have made good progress in recovering potential evidence.
"We found, as expected, a vast number of bones yesterday,” Jon explained.
“Each one was examined immediately, and each one was discounted there and then as being an animal bone.
"There are some other items that are of slight interest - the odd piece of fabric. That is being analysed and looked at, but there is slight interest.
"Everything is being carefully looked at. We want to make sure: do they or do they not relate to any of the items Ben was wearing on that day?"
Ben was wearing a white and green shirt and a pair of leather sandals when he went missing on 24 July 1991.
The search is expected to last about a week.
We will bring you more on this as it happens.
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