Gun found near the suspected burial site of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett
A GUN has been found near what is believed to be the burial site of a Moors Murder victim.
The Eibar double-barrelled shotgun, in its original case, was in a polythene sheet beneath rocks under an oak tree.
It was found by justice campaigners hunting for the grave of Keith Bennett, 12, on Saddleworth Moor, near Manchester.
They believe it was used to kill the lad, snatched by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady in 1964.
The makeshift graves of three of their five victims were found on the moor.
Experts said the discovery could be the biggest breakthrough since a broken spade was found nearby four years ago.
Ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas said: “Someone doesn’t just walk up on to the moors and hide a gun there.
“We do know that Brady was linked with armed robbery and that he certainly was planning one.
“When you put that all together, you certainly get something that is suspicious.
“Could this be Brady’s gun?
"It could be very significant.”
Erica Gregory, 50, found the Spanish-made shotgun which dates back to the 60s while searching the haunting moor with pal Margaret Coop.
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It was hidden in the same spot as discarded gun cartridges, lengths of twisted rope, polythene sheeting, a motorcycle gauntlet and a bone-handled hunting knife.
The latest finds come four years after the investigation team found a broken spade they believe was used to bury Keith in the area near Greenfield Brook about a mile directly south east from where Moors murder victim Lesley Ann Downey’s body was found.
The location is also a mile from Dove Stone Reservoir where Brady and Hindley parked up before heading on to the moor.
When linked to the site where the bodies of Lesley and two other Moors murder victims John Kilbride and Pauline Reade were found the location of the shotgun discovery completes a cross, Erica said.
Brady has previously given police a description of the area as the young boy’s final resting place.
Erica revealed she and Margaret, 55, had unearthed the gun from under an oak tree.
“Margaret just pulled the rocks up and noticed a black polythene sheet and saw a strap,” she said.
“At first we thought it was a handbag but we started digging and pulled out a bag and inside was the shotgun.
"It was such a shock.”
She added: “I believe this gun could have been used to kill Keith and he could be buried there and there could be other children.
“It is very significant because it shows it is an area which the police have not looked at.”
The gun was taken for tests.
Greater Manchester Police did not comment.
Brady, 78, is in a secure hospital.
Hindley died in 2002.