Police analyse photo showing tree planted shortly after toddler Ben Needham vanished
COPS investigating the disappearance of toddler Ben Needham are analysing a photograph showing a tree planted shortly after the tot vanished.
The discovery was made while analysing changes to the landscape of the scene in the Greek island of Kos during the past 25 years.
The area is expected to be excavated this morning, has reported.
Detective Inspector Jon Cousins has said he is "very pleased" with the progress of the dig.
Experts continue to examine a piece of fabric considered an "items of slight interest" found during the search for the missing boy.
Hundreds of animal bone fragments have been found - but none of them human.
Cops are particularly looking for fragments of clothes Ben could have been wearing that day.
Det Insp cousins said: "We have found items of slight interest - items of fabric."
Officers are looking for buttons of the shirt Ben was wearing that day and the buckle from his brown shoes.
A giant industrial sieve is being used at the scene.
Masses of soil were excavated from where police believe Ben may have been buried.
Experts were working through the soil by hand, in search for anything that may lead them to what happened to Ben.
The digger operator Konstantinos Barkas, who has since died of stomach cancer, told a man from Kos Ben died in an accident and he covered the body up.
Ben was born 29 October 1989 in Sheffield and disappeared on 24 July 1991.
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He had been on holiday with his family on the Greek Island of Kos, but despite numerous investigations and an array of sightings, no trace of him has ever been found.
The missing lad’s mum, Kerry Needham, now 43, has never stopped looking for her little boy, who would now be 26.
On the day of his disappearance little Ben was being looked after by his grandparents while mum Kerry went to work at a local hotel.
Ben had been coming in and out of the home (a farmhouse that was being renovated by the family) when, at around 2.30pm, it was discovered he was gone.
He was never found and police have now warned Kerry to prepare for the fact her son may have been crushed by a digger.
Ben’s heartbroken mum has told how her life has been on hold since her son went missing.
She spoke to Good Morning Britain about the new claims, saying: “He could have ended this 25 years ago. I could have grieved.
“You never forget your child but at least I would have known where he was. I could have done something with my life.
“Instead I’ve had a life on hold without being able to do anything or focus on anything. I’m living this nightmare – but it could have been ended 25 years ago.
“I could have probably forgiven that person back then. But now, no.”
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