New lead in search for missing boy

POLICE believe they have made a major breakthrough in the hunt for Ben Needham, the Sheffield boy who disappeared three years ago from the Greek island of Kos.

A man claiming to know where Ben is, who abducted him, and his new name has contacted Greek police. His family are hoping the new lead will end their years of searching for Ben, who will now be four.

Ben's parents, Kerry Needham and Simon Ward, and other members of the family returned to Kos earlier this year to launch a new appeal for sightings of Ben, who vanished in 1991 from Kos where the family were living at the time.

Miss Needham, 22, of Foxhill, Sheffield, said: 'We were hoping that if we returned to Kos it might just trigger information and we are just keeping our fingers crossed. This is the best lead we have had so far and we are praying this man can help us find Ben.'

Sergeant Bert Norburn, of South Yorkshire Police, said: 'It sounds very encouraging. Greek police are arranging to interview the caller . . . We are just waiting for further information from them.'