Corrie McKeague search at landfill site to continue for three more weeks

The search for missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague at a landfill site is likely to continue for at least three more weeks, police said.

Officers have combed through more than 3,500 tonnes of waste at the dump in Milton, Cambridgeshire.

The hunt, originally estimated to take up to 10 weeks, is now in its 11th week.

A Suffolk Police spokesman said that in view of dates on items being found it is likely the search will continue for at least three further weeks to ensure that the area holding waste from the relevant period is comprehensively examined''.

The spokesman added: No trace of Corrie has been found to date, however, throughout the search, officers have been finding items that are from the correct dates, around the time that Corrie went missing, and that are clearly from Bury St Edmunds.

The search has been expanded after waste linked to both the right dates and the right location were found outside the initial cell area identified.

As this type of search is so unusual, it was not known how the waste would have moved and as the work has progressed officers have gained a greater understanding of both how the waste is deposited and spread out, and the nature and construction of the site.

Officers continue to take all of this into account as the search continues.''

Mr McKeague, who is 23 years old and from Fife, vanished after a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds on September 24 2016.

A bin lorry was seen on CCTV near Brentgovel Street in the town around the time Mr McKeague was last seen, and it took a route which appeared to coincide with the movements of his phone.

The bin lorry linked to the disappearance of Mr McKeague was initially thought to have collected an 11kg (1st 10lb) load, but police said it was later found to be more than 100kg (15st 10lb).

Officers started searching the landfill site in early March and police said the search has cost more than £1 million to date.