Pair in court over Needham theft

If he is alive, Ben will be 14 later this month

A mother and daughter have appeared in court accused of stealing £27,000 from the family of missing Sheffield boy Ben Needham.

Ben disappeared on the island of Kos as a toddler during a family holiday 12 years ago.

Joan Jarvis, 49, and her 23-year-old daughter Alison from Wrexham, are alleged to have taken thousands of pounds from an emergency fund set up by the youngster's grandparents.

Appearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, they denied burglary and were granted bail after the case was adjourned for a trial date to be set.

They are accused of theft from the home of Ben's grandparents Eddie and Christine Needham back in May.

Since the disappearance of Ben, the family have offered a reward of 150,000 euros (£105,000) for information about his whereabouts.

He was just 21 months old when he vanished on 24 July 1991.

Despite appeals by his family and British authorities overseas, he has not been seen since.

Theories have included Ben having been killed, abducted or sold on to a family who could not have a child, but police have never closed the file.

If he is alive, Ben will be 14 on 29 October.