Dogs join search for Kate Prout's body

Kate Prout was murdered by her husband Adrian (PA)

Specialist search dogs have been brought in to help in the hunt for the body of a woman murdered by her husband.

Police are working on millionaire Adrian Prout's former farm at Redmarley, Gloucestershire, for the third day after widening the search area for the corpse of his wife Kate.

Last week Prout, 49, led officers to an area of 250m sq on Redhill Farm where he said he had buried the former teacher.

The businessman had always denied murdering Mrs Prout but dramatically confessed in prison.

Cadaver dogs, trained to locate decomposed bodies, along with a body deposition expert have now been drafted in to help the search.

The excavation work, which started on Monday, is taking place in dense woodland on the 276-acre farm and police have cordoned off the area and nearby paths and bridleways.

Gloucestershire Police, who have previously used specialist radar equipment, said yesterday that "nothing of significance" has been found so far.

Prout was jailed for life at Bristol Crown Court last year and told to serve a minimum of 18 years after being found guilty of murder.

He had denied killing his wife, maintaining that she had disappeared in November 2007.

PA