An excavation is to get underway in Waterville in Co Kerry as part of an investigation into the abduction and disappearance of a father of 4 25 years ago.

43 year old Charles Brooke Pickard was last seen being bundled into his Ford transit van in the Castlecove area of Kerry on the 26th of April 1991. The Navy van was found burned out 27 miles away in Shronaloughnane Forest, near Waterville on May 16th.

Gardai will begin a search and excavation today at Derrennageeha, Ballaghisheen Pass in Waterville less than a kilometre away from where his van was found.

Members of the Defence Forces are also assisting the search which is likely to last a week and an anthropologist has been consulted.

The search is getting underway after a renewed appeal for information.

Superintendent Flor Murphy, from Killarney Garda station says "there may be people who may not have been in a position to assist the investigation 25 years ago but with the passage of time their circumstances may have changed. Relationships, friendships , associations and loyalties may have changed and people may be in a better position to help us now. "

 Crimestoppers is also offering a reward for any information which may assist the investigation.

Gardai say his wife Penny and 4 children are being kept updated on the progress in the investigation.