Police call off search for missing Yorkshire toddler Ben Needham

South Yorkshire Police officers flew out more than a week ago to investigate a new theory he may have been buried by accident near to a farmhouse where he was staying.

The 21-month-old vanished on the island in July 1991, where he was staying with his mother and grandparents who are originally from Sheffield.

Despite a range of theories about what happened to him, no trace of the youngster has been found, although the latest operation raised hopes following a request from Greek officers for support.

Specialist geophysical ground examination equipment has been used to determine whether any particular area should be dug, while forensic archaeologists and search dogs have also been employed over the past week.

Ben’s mother, Kerry Needham, has always maintained her son was alive and had probably been abducted, but has supported the latest attempt to find any trace of him.

However the search was yesterday called off at around 4pm Greek time.

Det Supt Matt Fenwick, who has been leading the search, said: “We found a lot of animal bones, toys, rubbish, beer cans and so forth.

“It’s a been a difficult, but very thorough examination of the land.

“Even after the search we’ve done, you can never say 100 per cent, but the search has been so extensive and thorough that once complete it will be very unlikely he (Ben) could be in the specific locations we’ve searched.”