Missing Ben mother in fresh plea

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The mother of a boy who disappeared in Greece has called for a new drive to find her son, after seeing how the Madeleine McCann case is being handled.

Ben Needham vanished from outside a farmhouse on the Greek island of Kos in 1991, when he was just 21 months old.

Kerry Grist has welcomed the support the McCann family has been given by the British authorities but she said nothing like that was offered to her.

The mother, from Sheffield, said she will now write to the Prime Minister.

Now is the time for somebody to stand up for our family and find Ben Kerry Grist

"My heart goes out to the McCann family. My love, thoughts and my support go out to them," she said.

"I wish them all the luck in the world but we're angry and frustrated that these resources are out there and we didn't get them.

"Now is the time for somebody to stand up for our family and find Ben."

Mrs Grist's son Ben, who would be 17 now, has not been seen since his disappearance from the house her parents and brother were renovating, despite appeals by his family and the British authorities over the years.

Photo blessed

Theories have included that Ben, whose grandparents are from Lincolnshire, was killed, abducted or sold on to a family who could not have a child, but police have never closed the file.

Gerry and Kate McCann visited Spain on Friday as part of a tour of several European countries to publicise Madeleine's case.

Earlier this week, they met Pope Benedict in the Vatican City, who blessed a photo of the missing four-year-old.

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished during a family holiday in Portugal on 3 May.