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| Ben Needham disappearance: Police to search land on Kos | Ben Needham disappearance: Police to search land on Kos |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| British police are to help search land on a Greek island close to where Sheffield toddler Ben Needham disappeared 21 years ago. | British police are to help search land on a Greek island close to where Sheffield toddler Ben Needham disappeared 21 years ago. |
| Ben vanished on the island of Kos in July 1991, when he was 21 months old. | Ben vanished on the island of Kos in July 1991, when he was 21 months old. |
| In May, his mother Kerry dismissed a report he could have died in a building site accident near the family's house. | In May, his mother Kerry dismissed a report he could have died in a building site accident near the family's house. |
| Experts from police forces from across the UK have flown out to assist Greek authorities in their search of the area on Friday. | Experts from police forces from across the UK have flown out to assist Greek authorities in their search of the area on Friday. |
| The holiday home the Needhams were renovating is only three miles from the heart of Kos town, but it couldn't feel more isolated and rural. | |
| Twenty one years after Ben was last seen here, the quiet lane is full of vehicles. Greek police and their counterparts - drawn from forces across the UK - are gathering for a new search. | |
| They could be here for a week and there is clearly a firm commitment from the authorities on Kos to move the long investigation forward. | |
| They will be concentrating their efforts on the fields around the house and also examining a nearby mound of building rubble using equipment to survey the ground and a specialist search dog. | |
| Locals remember the story well. Ben's picture still hangs on a noticeboard at the police station. Just as the family continue to hold hope he is somewhere safe and well, the community would like some closure too. | |
| It is understood that Mrs Needham will arrive on Kos, supported by a police family liaison officer, during the search. | It is understood that Mrs Needham will arrive on Kos, supported by a police family liaison officer, during the search. |
| Mother 'pleased' | Mother 'pleased' |
| In a statement, she said she met the island's chief of police a year ago and was promised they were serious about reinvestigating her son's disappearance. | In a statement, she said she met the island's chief of police a year ago and was promised they were serious about reinvestigating her son's disappearance. |
| She said: "I am so pleased that this investigation is now moving forward and that the Greek authorities are showing a true commitment to investigate Ben's disappearance. | She said: "I am so pleased that this investigation is now moving forward and that the Greek authorities are showing a true commitment to investigate Ben's disappearance. |
| "Today is just a start, I understand that all possibilities have to be considered and the search of the area around the building work where Ben disappeared is part of that." | "Today is just a start, I understand that all possibilities have to be considered and the search of the area around the building work where Ben disappeared is part of that." |
| Dogs trained to search for human remains will be used during the search. | Dogs trained to search for human remains will be used during the search. |
| South Yorkshire Police said it was leading the team of "specialist search advisers" who had travelled to Greece. | South Yorkshire Police said it was leading the team of "specialist search advisers" who had travelled to Greece. |
| The force said they would start work on Friday, examining the ground, using geophysical equipment, to determine whether any areas should be dug up. | The force said they would start work on Friday, examining the ground, using geophysical equipment, to determine whether any areas should be dug up. |
| A spokesman said: "Other specialist resources include a forensic archaeologist and search dogs. | A spokesman said: "Other specialist resources include a forensic archaeologist and search dogs. |
| "The operation, expected to last a week to 10 days, follows a Greek police request for specialist support to follow through a line of enquiry they have developed." | "The operation, expected to last a week to 10 days, follows a Greek police request for specialist support to follow through a line of enquiry they have developed." |
| South Yorkshire Police has reviewed all material held by the Greek police in relation to Ben's disappearance over the past 18 months and obtained his DNA from Sheffield Children's Hospital. | South Yorkshire Police has reviewed all material held by the Greek police in relation to Ben's disappearance over the past 18 months and obtained his DNA from Sheffield Children's Hospital. |
| In May the Daily Mirror reported that Greek police believed Ben may have been buried under rubble near the farmhouse. | In May the Daily Mirror reported that Greek police believed Ben may have been buried under rubble near the farmhouse. |
| The newspaper said Greek police wanted to excavate the now-overgrown mound of earth and rubble on a property neighbouring the farmhouse which Mrs Needham's father was renovating at the time of her son's disappearance. | The newspaper said Greek police wanted to excavate the now-overgrown mound of earth and rubble on a property neighbouring the farmhouse which Mrs Needham's father was renovating at the time of her son's disappearance. |