This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-37518891
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ben Needham search: Dig halted over archaeological finds | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The hunt for missing toddler Ben Needham on farmland on the Greek island of Kos has been halted because of a dispute over archaeological remains. | |
The Sheffield toddler was 21 months old when he went missing on 24 July 1991. | |
Officers uncovered ancient graves on Thursday during a fresh excavation of the area, which began on Monday. | Officers uncovered ancient graves on Thursday during a fresh excavation of the area, which began on Monday. |
Police said they were asked to stop by the landowner. BBC correspondent Danny Savage, who is in Kos, said police were going to court to sort out the dispute. | |
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed there was "no activity at present". | |
Specialists have been combing the farmland where Ben was last seen playing. | Specialists have been combing the farmland where Ben was last seen playing. |
They were working on a tip-off he may have been crushed by a digger machine while his grandparents were renovating a farmhouse in the village of Iraklise. | |
Det Insp Jon Cousins, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "I was approached... by Mr Troumouchis, the owner of the land on which we are currently conducting the search. | |
"He raised with me concerns about the discovery of what appear to be ancient tombs. | "He raised with me concerns about the discovery of what appear to be ancient tombs. |
"My priority is to ensure that disruption to the operation that my team are running remains at an absolute minimum. | "My priority is to ensure that disruption to the operation that my team are running remains at an absolute minimum. |
"If magistrates' permission is withdrawn, it will be my intention to seek immediate judicial authority to search this area of land." | "If magistrates' permission is withdrawn, it will be my intention to seek immediate judicial authority to search this area of land." |
The four or five graves that diggers have uncovered are believed to date from about 1,500 years ago. |