A team of police officers from South Yorkshire have arrived on the Greek island of Kos to examine a mound of earth close to where toddler Ben Needham went missing 21 years ago.

The officers are leading a group of specialist advisers who will be supporting the Greek authorities as they decide whether to excavate the mound.

Ben vanished on the island in July 1991 when he was 21 months old. He had moved there from Sheffield with his mother and grandparents.

Despite a number of possible sightings and a range of theories about what happened to him, no trace of the youngster has been found.

His mother, Kerry Needham, has spent two decades looking for her son and has consistently said she believes he was abducted and is still alive.

Mrs Needham said: "This is an elimination process and that's how I'm dealing with it.

"It's one of the most important things to happen in 21 years."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "South Yorkshire Police is leading a team of specialist search advisers who have travelled to the Greek island of Kos to support the Greek authorities as they search for missing Sheffield toddler Ben Needham.

"Greek police are pursuing a line of inquiry centred on the grounds of the property from which Ben disappeared in 1991 aged 21 months.

"On Friday, work will begin to examine the ground, including using geophysical ground examination equipment, to determine whether any area should be dug."