Kerry Needham defends Operation Ben after drink binge claims

The mother of Ben Needham has defended a police team who reportedly went on a drinking binge in Greece while investigating the disappearance of her son.

The South Yorkshire Police officers had been dispatched to Kos in a fresh bid to discover what happened to Ben, who was just 21 months old when he went missing from the island in 1991.

But a senior police officer, named in reports Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, has been summoned back to the UK after reports that members of his team spent eight hours drinking wine and beer.

Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick has been sent home Credit: PA

Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, defended the officers at the centre of the row, telling ITV's Good Morning Britain she is confident they are doing all they can to discover the truth behind her son's disappearance.

She said: "They work so, so hard, putting every ounce of energy into trying to find out what happened to Ben and for this to come out, it could hinder the case.

"I know that without these officers we will not find the answers to Ben. I am so angry about it.

"No-one can understand how much hard work these officers put into this case. It is very, very cruel what has happened."

Police are on the Island of Kos as part of Operation Ben

She said she "fully" supported the police team and disagreed with thedecision to send the senior officer home: