The search for the remains of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett has continued into a seventh day. On Thursday afternoon police were pictured at the dig site on Saddleworth Moor.
Officers began excavating an area near Dovestone Reservoir on September 30 after information supplied by an amateur sleuth who has spent years looking for the 12-year-old's body. Keith, who was abducted and killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964, is the only one of five young victims of the Moors murderers whose remains have never been found.
Author Russell Edwards passed on images of what was described as part of a jaw bone after working with a team of experts to try and find Keith's remains. But the search has so far produced 'no visible evidence to suggest the presence of human remains', police said.
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Images taken this afternoon show a number of officers working at the scene, with a large patch of moorland dug up and covered in places by plastic sheets. Police have dug 3ft down in the immediate area identified by Mr Russell and then several metres beyond that. Several pieces of police tape were spotted in the area today, with three tents set up over the moorland.
Mobile generators, photography cameras resting on tripods, and distance markers could all be spotted at the dig site on Thursday afternoon, as police entered their seventh day of searching. Two forensic investigators could be seen at the site last Friday, with at least six people in white suits seen working on the moorland today, with more officers nearby.
In the the most recent police update, issued on Tuesday afternoon, senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Cheryl Hughes said: "Forensic Archaeologists and Forensic Anthropologists have now completed a methodical archaeological excavation and examination of the area previously dug and refilled by the member of the public. No bones, fabric or items of interest were recovered from the soil.
"These accredited and certified forensic experts are now continuing with a methodical and controlled excavation of the area immediately surrounding the original site to provide a higher level of assurance of the presence or absence of any items of interest. Further soil samples have been taken for analysis, but at this time there is no visible evidence to suggest the presence of human remains. The scene examination is ongoing."
Keith's brother Alan has praised the continuing efforts of the police, but expressed frustration that information supplied by Mr Edwards has so far come to nothing. Mr Bennett wrote on Facebook: "Instead of doing the rounds of media outlets, maybe that bloke should return to the moor and be a lot more accurate about the facts and location of his find. There's a lot more I would like to say and ask but out of respect and gratitude for the Cold Case Team and the Forensic Team I'll keep quiet for now."
Keith vanished on June 16 1964, as he walked to his grandma's house in Longsight. The other victims were Pauline Reade, 16; John Kilbride, 12; Lesley Ann Downey, 10; and Edward Evans, 17.
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