Diggers search for missing boys

Police said they would be searching a number of sites

Diggers are being used to unearth land close to where two young boys went missing on Boxing Day 10 years ago.

David Spencer, 13, and Patrick Warren, 11, went missing from Chelmsley Wood homes, near Birmingham, in 1996.

Police are searching waste ground in Old Damson Lane, Solihull, near Birmingham International Airport.

They recently quizzed convicted killer Brian Field about the missing boys. Field, a former gardener, was known to have dumped waste at the site.

Ch Supt Gordon Fraser, who is leading the investigation, said Old Damson Lane was one of a number of sites that would be searched.

"For the last 10 years, people from all over Solihull and Birmingham have been dumping garden refuse and building rubble onto this site.

I don't celebrate Christmas Christine O'Toole, David's mother

"We're removing that rubble now and returning the land to the level it was 10 years ago.

"And then we'll use highly-trained officers to sift through the earth to try and establish whether there's any evidence at all that connects us to David or Patrick."

During the weekend police handed out 10,000 leaflets across the borough to try to jog witnesses' memories.

David's mother, Christine O'Toole, made a fresh plea for information for his birthday, which would be on Tuesday.

The boys were last seen begging food at a petrol station

Mrs O'Toole, 43, said: "I really hope David is still alive but I just can't see it."

The arrival of Christmas made everything worse, she added.

"I don't celebrate Christmas and haven't put a tree or trimmings up since David went missing."

In 1996, the two boys had told Mrs O'Toole they would be staying at Patrick's brother's house for the night.

Family 'desperate'

But the last time they were seen was outside the Shell garage in Chelmsley Wood, asking for food.

"After all these years I just want to know where David is. If something terrible has happened at least I can grieve," Mrs O'Toole said.

Brian Field denies any involvement in the boys' disappearance

Patrick's family have also said they have been left in limbo by not knowing what has happened.

His father Derek Warren, 64, said: "As a family we are desperate to know what has happened to Patrick since he went missing.

"This January was his 21st birthday. We don't know whether he's alive or come to harm, but we can't come to terms with anything until we know for sure."

Brian Field, 70, was jailed for life in 2001 for the rape and murder of Roy Tutill, 14, more than 30 years earlier.

He denies any involvement in the two boys' disappearance, police said.

Officers said he was just one line of inquiry, and they were continuing to appeal for information.