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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/27/ben-needham-search-fabric-found-at-excavation-site
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| Ben Needham search: fabric found at excavation site | Ben Needham search: fabric found at excavation site |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police searching for missing toddler Ben Needham on the holiday island of Kos have found items of “slight interest” – including fabric – following an initial excavation of a site close to where he was last seen. | Police searching for missing toddler Ben Needham on the holiday island of Kos have found items of “slight interest” – including fabric – following an initial excavation of a site close to where he was last seen. |
| A 19-strong team of South Yorkshire police officers, forensic specialists and an archaeologist have been scouring an arid stretch of farmland where 21-month-old Ben was playing a quarter of a century ago. | A 19-strong team of South Yorkshire police officers, forensic specialists and an archaeologist have been scouring an arid stretch of farmland where 21-month-old Ben was playing a quarter of a century ago. |
| Digger teams were brought in on Monday afternoon to break up the clay-like ground. | Digger teams were brought in on Monday afternoon to break up the clay-like ground. |
| It was the first day of a fresh excavation at the site following new evidence that the Sheffield toddler may have been killed and buried there, yards from where he vanished while his grandfather was renovating a property. | It was the first day of a fresh excavation at the site following new evidence that the Sheffield toddler may have been killed and buried there, yards from where he vanished while his grandfather was renovating a property. |
| DI Jon Cousins, from South Yorkshire police, said the team – joined by local search and rescue volunteers – had made good progress in recovering potential evidence. | DI Jon Cousins, from South Yorkshire police, said the team – joined by local search and rescue volunteers – had made good progress in recovering potential evidence. |
| He said: “We found, as expected, a vast number of bones yesterday. Each one was examined immediately, and each one was discounted there and then as being an animal bone. | He said: “We found, as expected, a vast number of bones yesterday. 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. | “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.” | “Everything is being carefully looked at.” |
| He added: “We want to make sure: do they or do they not relate to any of the items Ben was wearing on that day?” | He added: “We want to make sure: do they or do they not relate to any of the items Ben was wearing on that day?” |
| The toddler was wearing a white and green shirt and a pair of leather sandals on the day he went missing – 24 July 1991. | The toddler was wearing a white and green shirt and a pair of leather sandals on the day he went missing – 24 July 1991. |
| The items have been forensically collected and photographs sent to colleagues back in the UK before deciding on whether they require further examination and testing. | |
| Cousins, the senior investigating officer, said: “We got ahead of time which meant we got digging a little bit earlier than I expected. | Cousins, the senior investigating officer, said: “We got ahead of time which meant we got digging a little bit earlier than I expected. |
| “So far it is going better than to plan, which I’m pleased about.” | “So far it is going better than to plan, which I’m pleased about.” |
| Examination of the site, about two miles (3.2km) east of the Greek island’s historic town centre, is expected to last for at least a week. |