The bodies of two boys, believed to be brothers who disappeared 20 months ago, were found at the bottom of a well in Italy after firefighters had entered the well to rescue another boy, police said yesterday.

The bodies were found late on Monday in Gravina, near Bari in southeastern Italy, after an 11-year-old boy fell down the 20-metre disused water cistern in a derelict building while playing with his friends.

He broke both legs and was rescued after a two-hour operation by firefighters.

The rescuers then noticed clothes and human remains at the bottom of the well.

Police said they believed the bodies to be brothers Francesco and Salvatore Pappalardi, who were reported missing 20 months ago aged 13 and 11. Their father has been in prison since November, charged with their murder.

Ahead of a final identification of the decomposed bodies, Carlo Schiladri, the Bari prefect, said items of clothing appeared to match those worn by the boys when they were last seen.

Bari's police chief said murder remained the most likely cause of the boys' death but did not rule out the possibility of an accident.

"At this point I can't exclude anything," Carlo Maria Speranza said. "But I'll add that the father is in custody because several strong clues have put him there."

The mother of the Pappalardi brothers was at the scene and told news agency Ansa: "I won't move from here. I have the right at least to see the dead that have been ripped from me in life".