How cops searching landfill for Corrie McKeague have dug up 1,000 TONNES of rubbish, stream bubblegum scent to mask the smell and use a HAWK to deter scavengers
POLICE have searched through 1,000 tonnes of landfill rubbish in just four weeks in the hunt for missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague, it has been revealed.
Specialist cops have spent hundreds of manhours sifting through scrap at a tip in Milton, Cambs, but have still not found the 23-year-old's body or phone.
Officers in white suits and breathing masks were on Friday spotted sorting through the mountain of rubbish before clocking off for the weekend.
The full-scale search is now around half way through and could take up to 10 weeks in total.
A bubblegum scent is continuously blown out to mask the stench and a hawk is used to keep other birds from the site as officers from Norfolk and Suffolk trawl through the waste.
Corrie has not been seen since a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in September.
A bin lorry where Corrie's phone was tracked weighed more than 100kg — leading to fears it may have been carrying his body.
The continued search comes as the airman's heartbroken pregnant girlfriend shared a selfie of her pouting against Corrie's cheek with the caption: "My world".
April Oliver also replaced her Facebook cover photo with a touching image of her cradling a small dog for comfort.
Earlier this week Suffolk Police confirmed they had traced one of two remaining potential witnesses.
A young woman had been seen on CCTV in the Brentgovel Street area of Bury St Edmunds around 5.15-5.20am on Saturday 24 September.
Officers had been making appeals to trace her, along with an older gentleman who has yet to be found.
Investigators said she had now been spoken to but that she was not able to add anything further to assist the investigation.
Corrie's mum also posted on Facebook saying she wanted to "stay positive, thankful and appreciative" as the search continued.
Nicola Urquhart wrote earlier this week: "Although so very difficult, what works for us is to stay positive, thankful and appreciative of all those helping to find Corrie it is what helps myself, Makeyan and Darroch through this.
"It is every single one of you on here that has collectively brought us to where we are now, we can never thank you enough."
Officers have revealed they are "confident" they will find Corrie's body at the landfill.
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