Police: Bones found in bushland. Unclear if animal or human remains.

Update:

The bones found in the search for William Tyrell are not human remains.

Police have confirmed that bones found in the bushland belonged to a small animal, Fairfax Media reports.

Previously, Mamamia wrote:

Bones have been found in the search for three-year-old William Tyrell, who went missing five months ago on the NSW mid-north coast.

It is unclear whether the bones are animal or human, but results of tests are expected to determine that in the next few days, Guardian Australia reports.

“Forensic Services Group will examine the bones to determine if animals or otherwise,” a NSW police spokesman said.

“As with any search like this in bushland it is not unusual to find the remains of numerous animals,” police said.

The discovery follows a new search today by the Homicide Squad in dense bushland at Bonny Hills after a tip-off from a member of the public, ABC News reports.

Police searched for the little boy’s body and further evidence about 20 kilometres from where little William was last seen.

William disappeared on 12 September while wearing his favourite Spiderman suit and playing ‘chasies’ with his sister in his grandmother’s backyard. Since that day, little William has captured the hearts of the nation as the search started for the little boy with the cheeky grin.

Police, SES teams, lifesavers and volunteers searched 21 surrounding properties, waterways and bushland fora week following his disappearance, but despite their best efforts William was not found.

Related content: William Tyrell’s family has broken its silence.

Police sources said late last year they believed it was most likely William was abducted as they begun to investigate “human intervention”.

“We don’t think he has just wandered off somewhere,” a senior officer told Fairfax Media.

Lead investigator Superintendent Paul Fehon, from Port Macquarie Local Area Command spoke to the Tyrell family of their grief: “They indicated to me that Christmas was just a quiet silent time at home, the emptiness of having a void in their house.”

“That’s been unopened presents, not able to share the festivities, to see a smile on young William’s face to receive gifts or presents like any other normal child.”

William’s parents told The Sunday Telegraph, “We pray that 2015 brings William home.”

Read more: Somebody knows where this little boy is.

Last week, William’s parents open up about their grief regarding their “gorgeous boy” in a letter published by News Corp.

“William’s Spiderman toys remain untouched and there is such a huge hole in our hearts. Walking past his bedroom is painful beyond words and having to do the day to day activities just reinforces that,” they wrote.

“Our sadness is overwhelming. As parents you wish for your children to have a long, happy and loving future. We desperately want that for our little William.”