THE heartbroken sister of Sheila Fox said today: "I hope her body is found so she can finally be laid to rest."

The plea came as police forensic experts began the grisly task of digging up the back garden of a Farnworth home searching for the six-year-old who vanished without trace -- 57 years ago.

As the police team began the hunt for a shallow grave, Sheila's older sister, Rene, talked of her sudden disappearance: "It was just as if the earth had swallowed her up."

Sheila Fox was reported missing on August 18, 1944, just hours after leaving St James's Primary School, New Bury, to walk home.

Despite an extensive search and claims that a child answering her description was seen with a mystery cyclist, she was never found.

Today Rene told of the moment that detectives told her the search was to take place in the back garden of the property on Barton Road, Farnworth.

Rene, who still lives in the Bolton area, said: "It was about a month ago that they contacted me and explained they had received some new reports. It just came out of the blue.

"I've hardly been able to sleep properly after I found out about it. I hope to God she is there so I will at least know where she is then.

"I will be so glad if they do find her because it was so sudden. It left us all feeling so empty. It was a terrible time.

"We never even found her shoes or a ribbon. It was just as if the earth had swallowed her up.

"It would be such a comfort if she could have a Christian burial. I would like her to go with my mum and dad. They would be able to rest properly then."

The tragedy devastated her parents, George and Miriam, who died without ever knowing what had happened to their little girl.

Bolton police never closed the file and today -- after receiving new information -- detectives, assisted by forensic experts, archaeologists and scenes of crime officers, began digging in the back garden of a house on Barton Road, Farnworth.

The police team moved in to the rear garden of the house after a man contacted detectives claiming that when he was a child, he saw a man digging in the garden at the time of Sheila's disappearance.

The excavation was under way today just a couple of hundred yards away from Sheila's former family home in Macdonald Avenue, Farnworth.

Today the man leading the operation, Det Chief Insp Paul Buchanan, said: "We are treating the information that we have received as genuine and well intentioned.

"This is a highly unusual investigation. To conduct a detailed forensic examination of a scene after so long a period of time is most unusual.

"I have never been involved in an investigation of this nature during my time on the force."

If human remains are discovered, a Home Office pathologist will be called to the scene and the Bolton coroner informed.

DCI Buchanan added: "If a body is found then a post mortem examination will be conducted in an attempt to establish a cause of death and to identify the deceased.

"It would only be at that point that we could identify our next course of action. Sheila Fox's family members have been kept up to date about this inquiry."

The excavations today were being undertaken by hand rather than using a mechanical digger.

The dig is being carried out on a lawned and paved area to the rear of the semi-detached property.

Police chiefs have stressed the present occupant of the Barton Road house is in no way connected to the investigation. DCI Buchanan added: "The person living at that address has nothing whatsoever to do with this investigation and past events and has only moved to the property in the last few years."

As dawn broke, the police team -- headed by Det Supt Dave Jones and DCI Buchanan --arrived at the house in Barton Road.

Two forensic archeologists and detectives were joined by other scenes of crimes officers, dressed in blue overalls.

The scene of the dig was screened off by a white trellis at the side of the semi-detached house as officers placed tape around the property, and the neighbouring house, just before 7am.

The police operation stunned neighbours who did not know anything about the excavation of the garden until officers arrived.

Tommy Charlton, aged 49, who lives next door, said: "It's awful. I don't know what the lady who lives there must be thinking -- it must be terrible for her.

"I have a little grandson who has just turned one. I do not know what I would do if someone hurt him."

DCI Buchanan said: "The excavation of the garden will be a slow and painstaking process lasting several days, after nearly 57 years with no word, we will all have to wait a little while longer while the forensic experts examine the garden for evidence."