Sheila Fox vanished in August 1944 after leaving school in the Greater Manchester town. No trace of her was found, despite a massive search by Special Constables, Air Raid Wardens, and neighbours. Police began excavating the garden in Barton Road, Farnworth, after receiving information that a man had been seen digging a hole there after midnight around the time Sheila disappeared. The house is near both her former home, in Macdonald Avenue, and St James School, which she attended. It is very early days for this line of inquiry and at this stage I don't want to speculate whether or not we will be successful in our search for Sheila.
Forensic experts are at the scene.
Police say they hope the operation might jog the memories of residents who might have information about the girl's disappearance. Officers stressed that the owner of the house moved to the property long after 1944 and was not connected with the inquiry in any way.