Paedophile's garden dug for bodies

10:10am Tuesday 8th August 2006

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POLICE are searching the former south London home of a convicted paedophile for the remains of what are reportedly two children.

Forensic archeologists will help police dig up the back garden of the home in Walton Green, on the New Addington Estate, in the hunt for two children missing for more than 30 years.

The home was owned by 72-year-old Leslie Ford-Thrussell before he was jailed for 12 years in 2004 for assaulting young girls.

The Times newspaper reported that police using specialist equipment had found two areas of ground that appear to have been disturbed.

The search of the former landscape gardener's house near Croydon was sparked by an anonymous letter.

Police confirmed the author of the letter had been identified, but no arrests had been made.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police are conducting a search at the premises.

"It follows an allegation made anonymously to police that there are human remains on the site."

She said the letter alleged the murders happened more than 30 years ago.

Digging will begin tomorrow, but the search could last all week according to police.