Toddler Ben Needham was 21 months old when he was snatched outside a farmhouse on the Greek island of Kos where he was holidaying 23 years ago. There have been over 300 reported sightings of the young boy since then but no evidence has been found. The boy’s mother, Kerry, has never stopped searching for her son. The search was given more impetus when the UK’s Home Office pledged 700,000 pounds to help in the search.

The South Yorkshire police said the fund from the Home Office will allow them to support Greek authorities in the search with a view to starting a new inquiry this April.

Police Commissioner Dr. Alan Billing says that the additional funding will allow further lines of inquiry to be explored.

The family thanked the Home Office on social media, however the mother told ITV that the announcement was “bittersweet” as the delay in funding may have stopped the family from finding the boy.