Police look to demolish part of farmhouse in search for Ben Needham
Police searching for missing Sheffield toddler Ben Needham on the Greek island of Kos are negotiating to demolish part of the farmhouse on the site.
Police searching for missing Sheffield toddler Ben Needham on the Greek island of Kos are negotiating to demolish part of the farmhouse on the site.
A specialist team has begun a second week of excavations close to where the 21-month-old went missing in 1991.
Detective Inspector Jon Cousins says he's negotiating with the family who own a farmhouse at the site as he wants to knock down part of the structure.
*I'm in negotiation with the family that own the farmhouse," *he said.
"There is reason for me to consider removing a small part of this farmhouse in order so that I can be sure that I have not missed any opportunity to find the answers that I need to.''
The detective said a 1991 press photograph showed that part of the building was not there when Ben went missing.
DI Cousins said it was a difficult negotiation as many members of the family that owned it had grown up there.
He said: I fully understand the concern that the family have.''
The officer said the operation was now back on schedule after an issue last week when a suspected ancient burial site was discovered.
The Greek island's top archaeologist is due to visit the site today to examine the ancient graves and make sure the search doesn't damage anything of significance.
"All of Ben's family are finding it extremely distressing as you can imagine," DI Cousins told Hallam.
"It is upsetting for them as each day goes on. We're in regular contact with all of them throughout the day making sure they know exactly what we're doing, and that they have our full support whenever they need it.
"I'm pleased to say we have their support in what we're doing as well, but it is clearly a very difficult time."
The excavation began after new evidence was found that the toddler may have been killed and buried there, yards from where he vanished while his grandfather was renovating a property.
A 19-strong team from South Yorkshire Police was sent to the island to investigate claims that the toddler might have been killed by a digger driver working on the 2.5-acre site.