Police hint over Brady's 'offer to help find body'

Britain's police chiefs have hinted they would be willing to take Ian Brady back to the scene of his crimes to find the body of his last missing victim.

Their statement came after the Moors murderer allegedly wrote to the family of Keith Bennett, who was killed on Saddleworth Moors in 1964, to offer his help in finding the body.

It has been reported that Brady, 63, responded to a letter from Keith's brother Alan Bennett asking for his help to find the body.

Brady is said to have written back offering his help on the strict condition that he is supervised by police and not staff from Ashworth Hospital, the Merseyside secure unit where he is held.

He wrote: "No credit to Ashworth re this present offer of mine, which only your letter induced. My return to Saddleworth must be in police custody, as before, but with no Ashworth staff at all."

He is said to add: "Speed is essential in the circumstances, not talk. This is my final effort."

Greater Manchester Police released a statement saying they "remain committed" to finding Keith's body, despite previous searches ending in failure.

It read: "Ian Brady was taken to Saddleworth Moors on two occasions in the 1980s in order to try to locate Keith Bennett's body. Neither visit proved successful in providing any information as to the whereabouts of Keith's remains.

"However, we remain committed to examining any new information that might come to light and we would dearly love to bring the suffering of Keith's family to an end."

Alan Bennett, 55, has refused to comment.