IT IS a grim task where a successful outcome would inevitably be a heart-breaking discovery.

But the search for missing Kyle Vaughan continued in earnest yesterday as specialist teams combed woods and fields near the areas he was last seen.

With the anniversary of the disappearance of the 24-year-old Pot Noodle factory worker drawing nearer, police victim recovery dogs have been brought in to help with the search.

The dog teams are part of a two-week operation to locate Kyle, who went missing on December 30 last year and whose disappearance led to a murder inquiry.

Spaniels Muzzy and Tito, victim recovery dogs, and their handlers, David Brake and Sally Richards, are combing places of interest in the Gwent area, including some that have already been searched by other police teams.

Yesterday they were searching the woods on Mynydd Maen Mountain, above Newbridge.

Gwent Police have borrowed Muzzy and Tito from South Wales Police. The dogs are seasoned searchers, and were involved in the search for missing five-year-old April Jones when she was murdered in Machynlleth.

Kyle’s dad Alan told the Argus he believes the specialist search teams will find his son and end his and his wife Mary’s suffering.

He said: “I’m getting to the end of my tether. We need closure, and we need to be able to bury our son. Since Kyle went missing, our whole lives have become a nightmare. Mary still has hope, but I don’t anymore.”

This is the third time the dogs, who work as a pair, have been involved in the search for Kyle.

Sergeant Andy Gibbs, who is based in Newport and is the search advisory in the investigation, said: “We were involved in the search for April Jones, and the things we learnt have been very helpful for this investigation and search for Kyle.”

The dogs can cover a large area in a short amount of time compared to human searchers, and have been known to find bodies even 20 years after they went missing. They are going over land that has already been searched by police teams, and new sites.

PC Richards said: “They are trained from 18 months old, as that’s when they are mature enough to go on a course. We train them with different substances, but mainly pigs because they are closest to humans. They are trained to find anything from tiny specks of blood which are hard for the human eye to see to a full-sized victim, and everything in between.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Jones, who has just taken up the role of head of CID but remains senior investigating officer in the Kyle Vaughan case, said the dedication to finding Mr Vaughan remains the same.

He said: “The investigation has been on-going for nearly a year, and as we approach the anniversary of his disappearance we would like to thank all those people who have come forward with information.

“Despite this information, and the fact we have searched five square miles, we have still not found Kyle. If someone is reading this and they have got information they have not yet shared with Gwent Police, I would like to reassure them that they can talk to us or Crimestoppers in complete confidence.

“We remain committed to finding Kyle.”

During the investigation so far, more than 1,800 pieces of property have been analysed, including 180 mobile phone SIM cards. Around 4,800 mobile phone contacts have been investigated and more than 10,000 lines of telecoms data, such as text messages, have been analysed.

Officers have visited more than 130 CCTV sites and analysed more than 200 hours of footage, and collected more than 390 statements.

Around five square miles have been searched, comprising routes to Kyle’s home address and the A467, which is where he was last seen. Search areas have included woodland and forestry, pathways and roadways, rivers and approximately 15 individual sites identified by intelligence.

The search for Kyle began when his silver Peugeot 306 was found on the day he disappeared on the A467 between Risca and Cross Keys after a suspected collision.

Search officers combed the area around Newbridge at the time using search dogs but failed to find the former Cwmcarn High School pupil.

A murder inquiry was launched less than two weeks after his disappearance.

A team of detectives from the Gwent Police major incident team, neighbourhood policing officers and forensic experts are all involved in investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Kyle’s family are planning a walk and event in Newport to commemorate the year anniversary of his disappearance.

The family are appealing for businesses in Gwent to help print new leaflets and posters advertising the events, as well as donating prizes for auction.

Mr Vaughan added: “We are holding this event to commemorate the year since he went missing. Police are still searching for our son, but some people out there have still not heard about Kyle’s disappearance.

“Rodney Parade have very kindly donated a signed Newport County T-shirt to be auctioned off. We are planning on having a balloon release, raffle, auction and more.”

The family are asking for businesses to come forward to help print new leaflets and posters or through donating prizes. They will also need people to volunteer as marshals at the event.

If you would like to help, visit the Facebook page Help us with information: Missing - Kyle Vaughan

Anyone with any information on Mr Vaughan’s disappearance is urged to call Gwent police on 101 or Crimestopppers on 0800 555 111.

* There are five people, four men and one woman, on bail in relation to the investigation, and all will be answering bail in December.

They are; a 27-year-old man from Blackwood arrested on suspicion of murder; a 25-year-old man from Blackwood arrested on suspicion of murder; a 22-year-old woman from Newbridge arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice; a 21-year-old man from Newbridge arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 15-year-old boy from Abercarn arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A further three people who had been arrested in relation to Kyle’s disappearance have been released by police and face no further action.

They are a 62-year-old man from Newbridge arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, a 27-year-old woman from Cwmfelinfach arrested on suspicion of murder and a 28-year-old man from Cwmfelinfach arrested on suspicion of murder.

Kyle Vaughan: Timeline of disappearance

* Sunday December 30, 2012: Kyle goes missing. Last confirmed sightings are in the Risca and Abercarn areas. At 11.45pm police find Kyle’s car – a silver Peugeot 306 – on the A467 between Risca and Cross Keys. It is believed the car had been involved in a collision.

* Wednesday January 2, 2013: Police launch appeal to locate Kyle.

* Thursday January 10, 2013: Investigation becomes murder probe. A 27-year-old man from the Blackwood area is arrested on suspicion of murder.

* Friday January 11, 2013: A 62-year-old man from Newbridge is arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

* Sunday January 13, 2013: A 21-year-old man from Newbridge is arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

* Monday January 14, 2013: A 15-year-old boy from Abercarn is arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

* Friday January 18, 2013: A 24-year-old man from the Blackwood area is arrested on suspicion of murder and 22-year-old woman from the Newbridge area is arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

* Tuesday January 22, 2013: A 27-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man both from the Cwmfelinfach area are arrested on suspicion of murder.

* Monday January 28: More than 16,000 people have joined a Facebook group aimed at helping to find Kyle.

* Saturday February 2, 2013: Kyle’s parents, Alan and Mary, emotionally reveal to the Argus they believe their son is dead.

* March 21: All eight people arrested in connection with Kyle’s disappearance have their bail dates extended.

* Sunday March 31: More than 100 friends and family walk through Newbridge in red hoping to jog people’s memories of the night Kyle went missing.

* Friday, May 17: Kyle’s parents tell the Argus their lives are ‘not worth living’ as the fifth month of his disappearance looms.

* Wednesday, June 12: A £5,000 reward is offered by Crimestoppers for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person/s responsible for the suspected murder.

* Tuesday June 25: All eight people arrested in connection with the disappearance of Kyle Vaughan have their bail extended until September.

* Saturday August 3: Kyle’s 25th birthday. His parents tell the Argus ‘this is a week of hell".

* Wednesday August 7: Kyle’s employees Unilever, who own the Pot Noodle factory where Kyle works, announce he still has a job to come home to, and they have ‘no intention’ of ending his employment.

* October: The 27-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man both from Cwmfelinfach arrested on suspicion of murder and the 62-year-old man from Newbridge arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice are released with no further action.

* November: Specialist police dogs search for Kyle in the area around Newbridge.