'PAINSTAKING AND SLOW'

Cops to start digging up olive grove where they fear body of Ben Needham is buried

Work will begin at the two-and-a-half acre plot on the Greek island of Kos as early as next Monday

Paul Sims

Published: 2:28, 22 Sep 2016
Updated: 8:54, 26 Sep 2016

composite ben needham

COPS will start the “painstaking and slow” excavation of an olive grove where they fear Ben Needham is buried on Monday.

It could take 12 days to cover the 2½-acre plot on Greek island Kos.

Brit Ben, 21 months, went missing on holiday there in 1991.

The olive grove where cops fear missing Ben Needham was buried after being crushed by a digger — The olive grove where cops fear missing Ben Needham was buried after being crushed by a diggerCredit: Doug Seeburg/The Sun

A man who died last year is said to have told a friend he accidentally ran over Ben in his digger and buried his body in panic.

Ben’s mum Kerry, 43, of Sheffield, has been told by police to expect the worst.

South Yorkshire officers were preparing to fly to Kos last night.

Detectives are acting on information from a witness who claims local builder Konstantinos “Dino” Barkas accidentally killed the toddler — Detectives are acting on information from a witness who claims local builder Konstantinos “Dino” Barkas accidentally killed the toddlerCredit: North Downs Picture Agency

Ben Needham was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island in 1991 — Ben Needham was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island in 1991Credit: pixel GRG

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A spokesman said: “There will be a number of forensic tents present. The policing team will be there for some time. The excavation will be painstaking and slow.”

A second site could be searched if the dig fails.

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