UK family found in Grimmer cold case

An English family of four who were key witnesses to the abduction of toddler Cheryl Grimmer from a Wollongong beach 47 years ago has been tracked down through Interpol.

The couple and their two children had left Australia late in 1970 and eventually returned to Britain.

NSW Police last Thursday put out the call to find Peter Goodyear, his wife Mavis and their two daughters Karen and Jannette, who had provided important statements at the time of Cheryl's abduction.

Strike Force Wessel says it's now got the details of the family, thanks to Interpol and media outlets in Nottinghamshire, England, and detectives hope to interview them soon.

Late last month, a 63-year-old man was charged with killing Cheryl, who vanished from outside a shower block at Fairy Meadow Beach during a family outing on January 12, 1970.

He was extradited to NSW from Victoria and will remain behind bars until his next court appearance on May 24.

Cheryl's body has never been found.

Police had earlier been unsuccessful in tracking down the family who had provided witness statements and weren't even sure if Mr Goodyear, who was 37 at the time, was still alive.