Bosnia experts search for Milly

Army experts trained to find hidden bodies in Bosnia have been brought in to help search for missing schoolgirl Amanda Dowler.

They are advising police on the most likely burial sites and conducting night-time searches at specific locations using an infrared imaging device like the one used to look for victims of Fred and Rose West.

A police source told The Sun: "Some of the Army experts have worked in Bosnia unearthing graves. They are the best people in the world you could turn to for advice in this situation." Surrey Police said the soldiers were helping but would not say how.

The Army's involvement is a strong indication the police believe the 13-year-old may no longer be alive. Detectives are still officially treating her disappearance nine weeks ago as a missing persons inquiry but senior officers are liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service about evidence on potential suspects.

Amanda, or Milly as she is known to family and friends, was last seen in Walton-on-Thames leaving the local railway station to walk home. She had phoned her father Robert to say she would be home soon. A massive nationwide hunt and a £100,000 reward for information has failed to find any trace of her. A 36-year-old man arrested last week has been freed on bail and police say charges are unlikely.

Police have used a private search and rescue team using sophisticated sonar equipment to search rivers and reservoirs. Using hi-tech radar they have ruled out stretches of the rivers Wey and Thames. Police have previously said it unlikely that Amanda was snatched from a street in daylight because, despite 4,000 calls from the public, not one has reported seeing a girl involved in a struggle.

There were unconfirmed sightings of a girl answering Amanda's description in tears at the junction with her road and another of a girl talking to the driver of a blue Saab.