Ben Needham: Family vow to stay 'strong and resolute' as DNA tests show Cyprus man is not the missing boy

Family confirm DNA comparisons between Ben and the man are not a match

File photo of missing toddler Ben Needham, whose sister says she wants her own DNA to be tested against that of a little girl found in a Roma settlement in Greece (PA)

A Roma man who handed himself in to Greek authorities for DNA tests to establish if he could be British-born Ben Needham has been told is he is not the missing boy.

A statement released on the Help Find Ben Needham Facebook page described the results as disappointing for the family, but said they would remain “strong and resolute” in the search for the toddler who disappeared 22 years ago.

The Needham family were informed of the results of the DNA today, on what would be Ben’s 24th birthday.

The post read: “The Needham family have [...] had confirmation that the DNA results on the man in Cyprus have came back as negative. This, again, is more disappointment for Kerry and her family.

“There are other leads currently being looked into which keeps their hopes alive.”

Ben disappeared as a toddler on the Greek island of Kos in 1991 during a visit with his mother and grandparents. His mother Kerry has always maintained that her son is alive and may have been abducted.

The man handed himself into Greek police to provide a DNA samples after a video emerged of him at a church in Limassol. Ben’s family said the man shared “similarities to what we think Ben would look like and the age progression photograph we had done”.