A major new search is being launched to find a schoolgirl, 14, who vanished from a care home more than two decades ago.

A murder investigation was launched after Sarah Benford disappeared on 6 April, 2000 in Northamptonshire.

Her body has never been found and no one has ever been charged, despite a number of arrests.

But 21 years later, police have received ‘significant new intelligence’ on the case.

Experts will be excavating a 70-metre by 70-metre area of open land in the Valley Walk area of Kettering.

Dozens of officers will guard the scene as it is sealed off from public view for two weeks.

Specialist search teams will be assisted by forensic archaeologists, while penetration radar equipment will be deployed to assess any movement on the section of land under investigation.

Detective Superintendent Joe Banfield who is leading the Northamptonshire Police operation, said ‘someone out there knows what happened to Sarah all those years ago’.

He added: ‘We have received significant intelligence which has pointed us to this site as a possible area of interest.

‘Sarah went missing more than 21 years ago now, but we have never given up trying to find her body and, potentially, tracing her killer or killers.

‘We have informed Sarah’s family and they are supportive of the operation being carried out today.’

The force has urged anyone with information to get in contact.

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