Police likely to extend William Tyrrell search

The search for the missing boy’s remains has been hampered by ‘consistently atrocious weather’ over the past 11 days.

A police diver searches a dam for William Tyrrell's remains near Kendall. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

NSW Police say they will likely extend their search for William Tyrrell by weeks after “consistently atrocious weather” has hampered their progress over the past 12 days.

The news comes as police found one more potential piece of evidence in bushland on the NSW Mid North Coast on Friday in their search for the missing boy’s remains.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said on Friday morning “we couldn’t have picked a worse time to undertake this search”, adding that authorities initially thought it would take two to three weeks.

Superintendent Bennett indicated that the search will likely take double that time because of the heavy rain.

“The painstaking search, along with evidence we’ve gathered in the course of the investigation, means we will continue the time-frame of this search, which may be extended now because of the setbacks with regard to weather and the processes we have to undertake if we find something.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett. Picture: Tim Hunter

“I’m very confident that we will gather a body of information that we can take to the coroner so she can continue the inquest.”

Police documented and bagged their 17th piece of evidence on Friday, what appeared to be a large piece of fabric which officers struggled to remove from the ground.

Superintendent Bennett said the operation had seized “numerous exhibitions”, which have been taken to Newcastle and Sydney for testing, which has also delayed the progress of the search.

He added that while there was no milestone to report in the investigation, authorities remained in “good spirits” and pleased with the progress they have made so far, despite the inclement weather.

On Thursday, police divers searched a dam and creek about 1km from the house previously owned by William’s foster grandmother, from where he vanished in 2014 during a visit with his foster parents.

Two officers with scuba equipment spent several hours diving in the murky brown water, which was about 2m deep.

Divers also used a camera and light attached to a pole to ­inspect an above-ground water tank at the front of the property and an underground tank in a nearby garden, both of which have previously been searched by police.

The search continues over the weekend.