Police are digging for the body of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett after a skull was found almost six decades after he was killed.

Ian Brady and Myra Hindley snatched the 12-year-old on June 16, 1964, as he made his way to his grandmother's house.

Evil Brady, who was born in Glasgow and attended Shawlands Academy, confessed to Keith’s murder but refused to reveal where he buried his body.

Now detectives are preparing to dig an area after a skull believed to be of a child was found on Saddleworth Moor.

Glasgow Times: Ian BradyIan Brady (Image: Newsquest)

On Thursday night, forensic anthropologists from Greater Manchester Police were examining potential samples of body tissue taken from the area.

It is hoped the breakthrough could help police crack the infamous case which has been unresolved for almost six decades.

The development came after author Russell Edwards put together a team of experts to try and solve the case.

Forensic archaeologist Dawn Keen, who specialises in the study of human remains, remotely supervised the "grave cut".

She said: "I do believe there are human remains there.

"From the photographs, I saw the teeth, I could see the canines, I could see the incisors, I could see the first molar. It is the left side of an upper jaw. There is no way that it is an animal."

Mr Edwards described the moment he made the discovery, saying: "The smell hit me about 2ft down. Like a sewer, like ammonia.

"It was on my clothes, I stank of it. The soil reeked. I worked as a gravedigger when I was 19 - that hits you, that smell of death. It is distinctive.

"I was overjoyed. Then we found blue and white striped material. Then I stopped. I put everything back as I found it."

The expert believes the skull belongs to Keith, but DNA tests will have to be carried out before this can be officially confirmed.

Tragically, Keith's mum Winnie went to the grave without ever being able to bury her son.

Glasgow Times: NewsquestNewsquest (Image: Newsquest)

The youngster was lured into a van by Hindley, who drove him to a lay-by on the Moor.

Brady and Hindley killed five children between 1963 and 1965 in a spree that horrified the nation.

Victims Pauline Reade, 16, John Kilbride, 12, Keith Bennett, 12, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17, were buried on Saddleworth Moor.

The depraved couple were jailed for life in 1966 for their sickening crimes.

Hindley died in 2002, while Brady became Britain’s longest-serving offender as he served his sentence on suicide watch at Ashworth Hospital.

He died on May 15, 2017, aged 79.