Police have escalated efforts to find the remains of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett as the search is poised to enter its sixth day - but as yet no bones have been found.
The latest excavation began on Friday after author Edward Russell showed police pictures of what was described as part of a jaw bone, after working with a team of experts to try to find Keith's remains.
Police have dug 3ft down in the immediate area identified by Mr Russell but today (Tuesday), as the search passed its fifth day, police confirmed that as yet no identifiable human remains have been uncovered. But the search continues.
Police have sent soil samples obtained by Mr Russell for expert analysis and have widened the search area.
Keith, 12, was one of five victims of killers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. He vanished on June 16th 1964. His is the only body not to have been found. The other victims were Pauline Reade, 16, John Kilbride, 12, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17.
In an update on the continuing dig, Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hughes, of GMP’s Force Review Unit, 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.
"A report of possible human remains is always treated with seriousness. As such, we have deployed police search advisors who can support our scenes of crimes officers – this will result in more visible and high profile tactics, such as officers walking in lines to identify any potential sites of focus.
"GMP is committed to providing Keith’s family with answers following this report, both from the physical excavation and subsequent analysis of this will take some time but we will keep the family updated at every stage and request that their privacy is respected.
"We have seen the outpouring of support since this news broke so know how our communities feel about this case but we are asking members of the public not to travel to the area and can assure them that we will provide timely and appropriate updates."
Earlier today the M.E.N. reported how Keith's brother Alan has praised the continuing efforts of the police to find his sibling's remains but expressed frustration that information from an amateur sleuth who sparked the latest dig has so far failed to find him.
On his Facebook page, Alan Bennett posted: "I would like to publicly thank the Cold Case Team and the Forensic Team for all they are doing on the moor and for keeping me informed."
Earlier he suggested Mr Russell could return to the moors to help police find the precise location of his find.
He wrote: "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."
He added: "Just to be clear about this. I'm not saying there is nothing there, what I will say is that I, and many others are confused, to say the very least. I still believe Keith is not in that location and I still believe there were no other victims. However, nobody can rule anything else out. I just cannot understand why nothing has been found."
Mr Bennett referenced two previous finds, one by his own team which uncovered some material and a stud fastener and alerted police. It turned out to be camping equipment, he said. He cited another find which turned out to be sheep bones.
He wrote: "I am just getting frustrated, annoyed, confused and feeling a lot more emotions because there is more to this than meets the eye and I cannot understand why that bloke appears not to have been exact in his information to the police about the location.
"Surely, he cannot have forgotten exactly where it is after his claims about his years of investigations. Just a few of the hundreds of thoughts running through my mind."
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