Missing Ben's Scandinavian link

Ben's 14th birthday will be on Wednesday

A private investigator searching for a boy who went missing on the Greek island of Kos 12 years ago believes he could have ended up in Scandinavia.

Ian Crosby is working for the family of Ben Needham, from Sheffield, who disappeared as a toddler while on holiday on 24 July 1991.

Mr Crosby, of St Athan near Cardiff, has spent the past two weeks in Kos following up leads in the hunt for Ben, whose 14th birthday will be on Wednesday.

He said he had found several links suggesting that Ben may have been taken from the island to Scandinavia.

Ben is still alive. I believe it, his mother believes it, South Yorkshire Police believe it and the police in Kos believe it Ian Crosby

Mr Crosby said: "A blond child like Ben would fit in very well in Scandinavia.

"It has to be a consideration that he may well have ended up there.

"I believe that sooner or later I will discover the whereabouts of this child.

"Ben is still alive. I believe it, his mother believes it, South Yorkshire Police believe it and the police in Kos believe it."

Mr Crosby travelled to Kos with Ben's uncle Danny.

Ben disappeared from outside a farmhouse in the village of Iraklise which was being renovated by his grandparents.

Since he disappeared, theories suggest Ben has been killed, abducted or sold on to a childless family. Kos police have never closed his file.

The Needham family have offered a reward of 150,000 euros (£105,000) for information about their son's whereabouts.