Police have released footage of the Gloucester basement where they are digging for human remains linked to serial killer Fred West. Excavation work began yesterday at the Clean Plate cafe, Southgate Street, where police suspect missing teenager Mary Bastholm may be buried after a cadaver dog took interest in the flooring. It is thought that serial killer Fred West may have buried Mary there over 50 years ago, after she went missing from a bus stop in 1968.
Above: footage filmed by ITV shows chalk markings highlighting areas for surveying work. Mary Bastholm worked at a sandwich shop, The Pop In, where The Clean Plate now stands, according to The Daily Mail Online.
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Police are preparing to start excavation work at a Gloucester cafe after finding possible evidence that a suspected victim of serial killer Fred West may be buried there.
Digging will begin on Wednesday at the Clean Plate cafe in Southgate Street, where detectives’ probe will focus on “six voids” discovered in the floor of the cellar.
Police have confirmed they are searching the premises in connection with the disappearance of 15-year-old Mary Bastholm, who was last seen less than two miles away at a bus stop on Bristol Road in January 1968.
The hunt began after a TV production company handed police a photo of what appeared to be blue material buried in an area of the underground room.
Detectives searching cafe for Mary Bastholm s remains were given new information from Stephen West
Mr West is understood to have told officer that serial killer father told him he murdered 15-year-old Mary
Police source says Mr West explained he had given the information to chief superintendent John Bennett
Now-retired officer led murder probe into West couple back in 1994 - but allegedly did not believe Mr West
He said: I honestly don t know what we are going to find in the basement. It could be we find Mary, it could be we find nothing, or it could be - because the basement is on a site of archaeological interest - because Gloucester has been there since the Roman times, we may find other human remains.
Excavation begins at Clean Plate Cafe. BPM Media Credit: BPM Media The most important thing is, I ve now got the opportunity to find out once and for all what is in the basement. The police s job is to find the truth and the truth will be found for the benefit of Mary and for the benefit of the family.