Katrice Lee: police to dig up German riverbank in search for British toddler who disappeared 36 years ago

Military police searching for a British toddler who disappeared on her second birthday 36 years ago are to dig up a riverbank in Germany.

Katrice Lee vanished from a supermarket in 1981 in the city of Paderborn where her soldier father was based.

Despite a huge search operation involving British troops, the Royal Military Police, German officers and hundreds of local volunteers she was never found.

Parents Richard and Sharon Lee have always clung to the belief she may still be alive.

Now, the RMP, assisted by 100 soldiers, is to begin a five-week forensic excavation of the bank of the River Alme in the north-eastern city.

It follows re-analysis of evidence gathered during the original investigation, which pinpointed the area as of possible interest, the force said.

Investigators have identified a green saloon car - which is believed to have been seen at both the supermarket and close to the river - as of particular interest.

And they have also produced an image of what Katrice might look like now if she is still alive. It takes into account how her left eye – which had a genetic condition – may have developed.

The tot went missing on November 28, 1981, while with her mother and aunt. The three were shopping for birthday treats at a NAAFI army store at the time.

Ms Lee, now 64, told The Sun that the toddler was “gone in a matter of seconds”.

She said: “It’s living a nightmare that you never wake up from.

"Katrice wouldn’t sit in the trolley, so I carried her all the way around in my arms doing my shopping. When we got to the checkout I realised I’d forgotten crisps.

“I put Katrice down and said to my sister Wendy, ‘Just keep an eye on her while I go back to the crisps stand’. It took me about 40 seconds, a minute at most. When I got back I asked, ‘Where’s Katrice?’

“My sister said, ‘I thought she was with you. She ran and followed you’.

“I went back down the aisle and she wasn’t there. Panic started to set in. I couldn’t see her anywhere. There was so many people. I was calling her name. She wasn’t there.”

The Royal Military Police and German police worked on the assumption the little girl – wearing red wellies, a turquoise duffle coat and tartan dress – wandered of and drowned in another river, the nearby Lippe,.

But a hunt turned up nothing.

The case was reopened in the year 2000 and led to the arrest of a former soldier. But he was released without charge and the case was closed again three years later. There were further enquiries in 2012 and a BBC Crimewatch appeal in 2017.

Mr Lee, 68, of Hartlepool, welcomed the new investigation but told the BBC: "I'm a little bit upset that it has taken this length of time."

Talking about the current developments, senior Investigator Richard O'Leary said: "In February 2017 the case featured on Crimewatch. As part of the feature a photofit was released of a man seen at the NAAFI on the day Katrice disappeared, holding a child similar to Katrice and getting into a green saloon car. We are keen to hear from anyone who could help to identify this person.

"A green saloon car was also seen on the River Alme Bridge near the NAAFI the day after Katrice disappeared. It may or may not be the same car, but we are very keen to identify this car."

The investigation team would also like to hear from anyone who was living in the Paderborn area who owned a green saloon car, so that they can be ruled out of the team's enquiries.

Officer O'Leary said: "Thirty-six years have passed and allegiances may have changed. "We are appealing to members of the public and the military community, including veterans and retired civil servants in both Germany and the UK – do you know what happened to Katrice?"