Police charge William Tyrrell’s foster parents

The foster parents of William Tyrrell have been charged over the alleged assault of a child.

The foster parents of William Tyrrell have been charged over the alleged assault of a child.

Detectives from the NSW Homicide Squad investigating the disappearance of William received information about the suspected assault of the child at a home on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.

Strike Force Rosann detectives leading the investigation served Court Attendance Notices on lawyers for the 56-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man this morning.

They have been charged with common assault and due to appear at Hornsby Local Court on November 23.

It comes as police worked late into the night on Tuesday searching a section of garden beneath a terrace at William’s foster grandmother’s old home.

NSW Police and Rural Fire Service volunteers search an area of bush, 1km from the former home of William Tyrrells’s foster grandmother in Kendall. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Day 3 of the search for clues into the disappearance of William Tyrell. Picture: NSW Police Media

Specialist officers sprayed polylite on the grass and soil in the hope it would show up traces of blood.

The AFP joined in the search on Wednesday morning as police began to look through a creek bed not far from the home.

At one point a small piece of what was thought to be material was discovered in soil, leading to premature suggestions of a breakthrough. But police confirmed they did not believe the find was of significant note.