The net is closing on the killers of six year-old Rikki Neave, police revealed today.

Police investigating the murder say they are closing in on those responsible for his murder.

On the 21st anniversary of Rikki’s disappearance officers investigating his murder are confident they are making significant progress in identifying who killed the young boy.

Det Chief Insp Richard Wall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “We have had an overwhelming response from the public and have built a strong timeline of Rikki’s last movements.

“Even 21 years on people still remember clearly the events leading up to Rikki’s death and I would urge people to continue to come to us with any information they have.

“At the time of Rikki’s death we know that drug use was common place on the estate and are keen to hear from any professionals who may have been helping people and given information about the murder.

“We are also working with a number of experts and re-examining all of the original forensic materials using the latest scientific advances and technology, the results of which are very promising.

“We are confident that we are closing in on those responsible for Rikki’s death and it is only a matter of time before we have that vital breakthrough the leads us to them.”

This weekend detectives will be on the Welland Estate continuing their enquiries, talking to people on the estate and distributing appeal materials.

Rikki was last seen leaving for school at around 8.30am on Monday, November 28, 1994, from his home in Redmile Walk, Welland. He is believed to have been wearing grey trousers, a white shirt, black shoes and a blue coat.

Rikki’s body was found the following day in a wooded area off Eye Road, close to Willoughby Court - five minutes’ walk from his house in the Welland Estate.

A post mortem examination concluded that Rikki had died as a result of a compression of the neck – strangulation.

The following day (Wednesday November 30) officers searching Willoughby Court found Rikki’s clothing – grey trousers, a white shirt, black shoes and a blue coat – in a wheelie bin.

A reward of up to £10,000 is on offer for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of Rikki Neave’s killer.

Independent charity Crimestoppers has put up the reward in a bid to help police catch the offender responsible for the murder of the six-year-old.

If you have information, please contact us on 01480 425882 or email operation.mansell@cambs.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively, you can give information anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

The reward of up to £10,000 can only be claimed by those who provide information to Crimestoppers directly on 0800 555 111 which leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Rikki’s murder.

Anyone involved in the murder will not be eligible to claim any of the reward.