Luke Durbin missing: Bone found after eight years in Suffolk woodland

A photograph issued by Suffolk Police of Luke Durbin. Police investigating the disappearance of the 19-year-old eight years ago have uncovered human remains in woodland (Suffolk Police/PA Wire)

Police investigating the disappearance of a 19-year-old eight years ago have uncovered human remains in woodland.

Luke Durbin, of Hollesley, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, went missing after a night out in Ipswich in May 2006.

Today, Suffolk Police confirmed that a human bone had been found in a wooded area near the village of Ufford by officers investigating his disappearance.

Detective Superintendent John Brocklebank said: "Officers have been searching the woodland area in Ufford as part of our continued inquiries into Luke's disappearance.

"We knew Luke frequented this area prior to him going missing and, as well as other lines of inquiry, we have also recently searched the woodland area.

"At this very early stage we cannot make any assumptions about the discovery of the small piece of bone; however, we have had it confirmed that it is human."

Forensic anthropologists will examine the bone to establish whether it belonged to a man or woman, the age of the person and potentially their identity. The process is expected to take several weeks.

"We also need to carry out a more detailed search of the area, which again may take a number of weeks," Mr Brocklebank added.

"We have advised Luke's family of the discovery, but we are keen to stress that we cannot and will not speculate that this is Luke.

"We need to pass the work to specialists in this field to establish the identity of the bone."

The last confirmed sighting of Mr Durbin was in Dog's Head Street in Ipswich at 4am on 12 May 12 2006.

Police said CCTV images of him at the railway station, a taxi rank and crossing the road towards the town's bus station suggested he was trying to get back to his home in Hollesley.

His mother, Nicki Durbin, has led a campaign to find her son.

Speaking in 2011, she said: "The thing with a family of a missing loved one is you are just in a constant state of grief.

"You can't go through the process of mourning your child.

"I would love it if Luke walked around the back of the house laughing. That would be the best outcome but I think the reality is that's not going to happen."

Two men, aged 26 and 41, were arrested earlier last year as part of the murder investigation, but later released.

More than 100 people have been interviewed by police investigating the case.

PA