Latest updates as police confirm they have stopped searching for missing RAF airman Corrie Mckeague at a landfill site
The search of the site in Milton, near Cambridge, was ceased this afternoon
Police still believe he is in the tip but have failed to find him
Corrie went missing after a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last September
It is believed he fell asleep in a bin, which was then taken to landfill
His mum says she's 'devastated' at today's news, while dad thanks volunteers who searched for him
"Without anything further to tell us where he might be... the search cannot continue," police told a press conference
Updates on Friday, 21 July 2017
Police say they have gone through 6,500 tonnes of waste in search for Corrie Mckeague at Milton landfill lasting 20 weeks.
The search, which began on 6 March 2017, saw police look through rubbish that arrived at the site between 16 September and 3 October.
No trace of the missing RAF airman was found.
Police say they have searched 6,500 tonnes of waste in hunt for Corrie Mckeague
The police and crime commissioner for Suffolk, Tim Passmore, says in a statement: "It is extremely sad that the mystery surrounding Corrie's whereabouts has not been resolved.
"My thoughts are with Mrs Urquhart [Corrie's mother] and Mr McKeague and their families; I cannot even begin to understand what they have been going through since their son's disappearance."
Image source, Suffolk PoliceMr Passmore continued: "The officers that have been involved in this search have worked tirelessly for months, in very difficult circumstances.
"I know they will be disappointed not to have found Corrie, but I know that the constabulary has done all it can locate him and I'd like to express my thanks, on behalf of the communities I serve, to them all.
"This is the biggest missing person enquiry that the constabulary has undertaken."
The search of the site at Milton near Cambridge has been "one of the biggest and most complex searches of a landfill site in the country", say police.
"This search process has been reviewed as it has been carried out and what we have learned and the expertise gathered during the search is now being called upon by other constabularies."
Speaking at a press conference earlier this afternoon, Det Supt Katie Elliott said the search for Corrie Mckeague at Milton landfill site had been very thorough.
Image source, Suffolk PoliceShe said: "The investigation behind-the-scenes hasn't stood still while the search has been carried out, but all the information we have still points to the fact that Corrie was transported from the 'horseshoe' area in the bin lorry.
"Having been through all of the possibilities in detail, there is nothing to support any theory other than that Corrie was in the bin.
"There are no further sightings of him on CCTV to suggest he left the area and we have explored the other possibilities as to how he left - such as being taken from the area by someone - and there is no evidence to support that this is the case.
"We know that Corrie's phone travelled away from Bury St Edmunds at the same time as the bin lorry that collected waste from Brentgovel Street.
"The theory that Corrie was in the bin that was emptied into the bin lorry shortly after he was last seen is strengthened by credible information that we have obtained through our enquiries, that Corrie had been known to go to sleep in rubbish following a night out.
"We've explored every other reasonable hypothesis - and there is nothing to support any other explanation."
Image source, Chris RadburnThe story of the young airman who vanished on a night out baffled the nation - what happened to Corrie Mckeague?
Read MoreThe search for Corrie Mckeague has taken place over two counties - Suffolk, where he went missing, and Cambridgeshire, where it is suspected he ended up.
He was a gunner at RAF Honington and went missing after a night out in Bury St Edmunds - the nearest big town.
It is believed he fell asleep in a bin and the refuse lorry took him to Milton landfill site, near Cambridge, 28 miles away.
Police confirm that the search for missing RAF airman Corrie Mckeague is to be ended.
Read MoreDet Supt Katie Elliott explained the reason for calling off the search of the landfill site at Milton for Corrie Mckeague, saying: "We have searched over 6,500 tonnes of waste, excavating a huge area.
"Without anything further to tell us where he might be on such a vast site the search cannot continue.
"Officers have been finding items such as newspapers and other material that have September 2016 dates on them.
"This is the time that Corrie went missing.
"Some items have been clearly identifiable as coming from Bury St Edmunds and this has confirmed that we have been searching in the right place, however none of these items have had any link to Corrie.
"We have also found items such as mobile phones, footwear and clothing and each one of these items has been checked to ensure it did not belong to Corrie.
"We have completed the search of the area where we know waste was deposited in this period.
"In fact, we have searched an area that is larger than was originally designated.
"The work was initially extended to include areas containing additional waste dated in the correct time-frame and was further extended in response to new information regarding the location of further relevant waste.
"Sadly, we have not found Corrie or any trace of his clothing or mobile phone."
Image source, Suffolk PoliceAnd that's it... we'll bring you a round-up very shortly.
"It's never been about money this investigation," the conference hears.
"I don't suspect that it must be foul play... all the evidence at this time points to Corrie being in that bin lorry going to the landfill site," police say.
Police say they have commissioned a review of the work completed since the start of the investigation to see if anything further can be done to trace Corrie Mckeague.
"We remain open-minded and should this review reveal further lines of enquiry that will help us find Corrie we will pursue them vigorously."
Image source, Paper PixPolice say they've been "absolutely committed to finding Corrie and none of us wanted to be in this position, where we are unable to provide the answer".
Det Supt Katie Elliott says officers carrying out the search have been working extremely hard "in difficult circumstances".
Police say £1.2m has been spent on the investigation.
The police investigation has continued away from the landfill site while the search has been taking place, the conference hears.
Nothing to support any theory other than that Corrie was transported away from Bury St Edmunds in the bin lorry.
No trace of Corrie, his clothing or mobile phone, police say.