Digger driver suspected of killing Ben Needham was 'good man'

Ben Needham disappeared when he was 21 months old

A dead digger driver at the centre of speculation over the fate of toddler Ben Needham was a "good man" who had nothing to do with the boy's disappearance, his widow has said.

Konstantinos Barkas, also known as Dino, was clearing land with an excavator close to where the 21-month-old was playing on the day he vanished in 1991 and may be responsible for his death, a friend of the builder has told police.

There are fears the youngster may have been crushed to death in an accident and his mother, Kerry Needham told ITV Calendar that police have told her to "fear the worst".

Detectives from South Yorkshire Police said they will carry out investigations at two "areas of interest" on the Greek island of Kos in the coming weeks, although they are keeping an open mind about what happened to the toddler.

Mr Barkas's widow Varvara strongly dismissed any suggestions her late husband had killed Ben in an accident when asked by the Sunday Mirror.

She admitted they had never spoken about what happened on the day Ben disappeared.

Mr Barkas built up a successful construction business on the popular tourist island before his death in April 2015 aged 62. He had reportedly been helping to clear land for a local builder near the property when Ben disappeared.

His son Valandis said his father was an honest and respectable man who had assisted British investigators when requested.