The search for Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett continued today following the reported discovery of part of a skull. Investigations on Saddleworth Moor were ongoing on Saturday lunchtime (October 1).
It comes following the reported discovery of human remains, understood to be part of a skull. Police are treating the report seriously, but remain cautious.
There are renewed hopes the final Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett will finally be found - 58 years on.
The site was guarded by officers overnight. Specialist police and firefighters returned to the dig location, near Dove Stone Reservoir on Saturday morning. Firefighters have been called to pump water out following torrential rainfall.
The reported discovery was said to have been made in a remote location, triggering a wider excavation by Greater Manchester Police. Any remains that are taken for analysis by GMP will not be identified for weeks, according to the force.
READ MORE: The amateur sleuth who found suspected human remains in 58-year hunt for Keith Bennett
Officers involved digging near memorials to Keith and his mother Winnie, who kept faith throughout her life that she would find out where her son was buried.
Keith was one of five innocents killed between July 1963 and October 1965, in and around Greater Manchester. Brady and Hindley, both in their 20s, lured children and teenagers to their deaths, then buried them on Saddleworth Moor.
In 1966, the twisted couple Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were found guilty of torturing and killing John Kilbride, 12, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17. Almost 20 years later, Brady admitted in an interview with a journalist that he had also killed Keith and Pauline Reade, 16.
Tragically, Winnie Johnson died in 2012, aged 78, without ever laying her son to rest.
Author Russell Edwards brought together a team of experts in a bid to find where the Moor Murders victim was buried. On Thursday night, force specialists went to a remote location to dig at the spot where Mr Edward's team reportedly found remains.
Force forensic experts are hoping to obtain DNA from any body tissue they discover so they can confirm that the remains are those of Keith. It is understood a tiny piece of clothing has also been found buried 3ft underground beside the suspected skull.
The Manchester Evening News understands it will take a week to a fortnight to establish whether any remains are those of Keith.
Pictures from the scene on the moors this morning show forensic officers in white suits back at the two tents set up on Friday.
In the most recent statement from Greater Manchester Police, officers said the evidence is in the very early stages of being assessed: "We have always said that GMP would act on any significant information which may lead to the recovery of Keith and reunite him with his family.
"Officers met with Mr Edwards yesterday evening (29 th September) and he was able to locate a site of interest and provide us with further details of the work he has been carrying out.
"We are at the very early stages of assessing the evidence which he brought to our attention, but have taken the decision to excavate an area of land with a view to determining what lies there.
"It is far too early to be certain whether human remains have been uncovered, but out of respect for Alan Bennett, who we regularly maintain contact with, we have informed him of this potential development."
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