Police hope to start digging up a landfill site next week in a bid to find the weapon used to murder an East Sussex businessman.
Detectives believe a knife and the killer's coat are at Pebsham landfill site, Bexhill, after being dumped in bins at a supermarket.
They are to focus their search on an area measuring 50 metres square by three metres deep - about the size of half a football pitch.
It is within that area they hope to unearth vital clues about the murder of grandfather Michael Willard, known as Mick.
Mr Willard, 63, was stabbed once in the back outside his scaffolding company offices in Caves Road, St Leonards, on January 10.
He died within an hour at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.
Excavation of the landfill site, operated by Biffa, is expected to last up to four weeks.
Police had hoped to start excavating the site this morning but have had to delay the work for a week for logistical reasons.
Two men have been charged with Mr Willard's murder.
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