The father of a missing three-year-old boy is urging volunteers to widen their search, saying he “cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone”.
Police and local residents are desperately trying to locate Noah Woods, who went missing near a playground in Brantham on Tuesday afternoon.
Rhys Woods wrote on Facebook: “Please don’t give up on him guys,” adding: “He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”
Hundreds of people are reported to have joined the search for the child, who was last seen around 3pm yesterday, when he became separated from a relative after visiting the playground in Merriam Close, Suffolk Police said.
Noah, who is mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss, is reported to have run off down the alleyway beside the playground towards the new build housing estate.
He is white with curly ginger hair and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with the TV character Bluey on, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe.
Police said specially trained officers and dog units have been searching the village, and have been supported by helicopters.
Key Points
- 'I can't go another night knowing he’s out there alone', says father
- Urgent search for missing boy, 3, ramps up
- Hundreds of locals come together to 'do whatever we can to find him'
- Police urge locals to check gardens, sheds, outbuildings, and CCTV
- Suffolk Police 'very concerned' about Noah's welfare
Hundreds of locals come together in search for Noah to 'do whatever we can to find him'
12:20 , Harriette BoucherHundreds of local residents have poured onto the streets to look for three-year-old Noah as the search enters its second day.
Search parties began coming together on Tuesday afternoon, just shortly after he disappeared, and now include residents in neighbouring areas who wanted to help.
Suffolk Police said they were “incredibly grateful” for the public’s help and support and have asked them to work alongside the force.
Melissa Dark, a local mother of two who is on maternity leave from her work in major incidents for the police, told BBC: “I just saw the news and needed to come down and help," she said.
“I've bought my six-month-old baby here. We're all just pulling together and doing whatever we can to find him.”
Sarah Keys, the clerk of Brantham Parish Council, has been at Brantham Village Hall since 4pm yesterday to help co-ordinate the search efforts.
She told the broadcaster that the community had been "flooded" with people wanting to help.
“Every parent in the country is thinking that could have been my child,” Ms Keys added.
“I hope that what Noah's parents will see is a community that are really there for them. We are really pushing to try and find their little boy and I hope they are feeling supported and loved by that response.
“We are hopeful today is the day that Noah is going to get returned home safely.”
Noah’s father Rhys Woods wrote: “I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone, please don’t give up on him guys. He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”
Police declare lake 'out of bounds' as search continues
12:20 , Harriette BoucherA lake known as Decoy Pond has been cordoned off by police tape in Brantham as searches for Noah continue.
An officer, who was putting up more police tape along the edge of a nearby wooded area, said this area was also “out of bounds” to members of the public.
Noah’s father Rhys Woods said Decoy Pond had been searched “thoroughly” and the amount of people in the way was “making it hard to pick up the infrared signal we need”.
He added: “We still have nothing, all the emergency services and all of you have shown how strong this community is, with people coming from far and wide also, the emergency services are very confident that the high risk areas (Decoy Pond, railway lines) are all clear.”
Volunteers search farmland in desperate hunt for Noah
11:55 , Harriette BoucherLowland search and rescue volunteers in white helmets are searching along a ditch between farm fields and checking in undergrowths as efforts to find three-year-old Noah continue.
Members of the public, many of them in orange Hi Vis jackets, spread out across the area as they tried to find him.
Some used sticks to help them peer into foliage.
Two men in Environment Agency jackets, one of them carrying binoculars, were also among the searchers.
Police urge for people with information or sightings to come forward
11:42 , Harriette BoucherOfficers have asked anyone who believes they have seen Noah to contact Suffolk police on 999, quoting CAD 203 of 15 September.
Anyone with any other information can report it via the website here or by calling 101.
People can also use the live chat service by clicking the icon at the bottom right corner of the force’s website here.
In the event of an emergency you should always call 999, Suffolk Police added.
In pictures: Locals and search teams continue to try find Noah
11:21 , Harriette Boucher
Police urge locals to check gardens, sheds, outbuildings, and CCTV
11:14 , Harriette BoucherSuffolk Police have told local residents to thoroughly check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings, or any potential areas where a child might hide away.
The force has asked for anyone with private CCTV or doorbell cameras in the village to review the footage from 3pm yesterday onwards for any possible sightings of Noah.
The same is also asked of anyone driving through Brantham with a dashcam fitted in their vehicle.
“We know that people want to help and so we are urging local residents to carefully read our requests to check their gardens and outbuildings and review any CCTV or dashcam footage as a priority.
Superintendent Pete Partridge said in a statement: “Anyone who believes they have seen Noah is asked to contact us immediately.”
How The Independent’s readers helped launch a vital lifeline for missing children
11:10 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent teamed up with charity Missing People last year to raise the funds needed to create SafeCall, a national lifeline for children and young people who are in crisis.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our readers, we reached out £165,000 fundraising target, and the service was launched in January.
Since its launch, the campaign has drawn the backing of Sir Keir Starmer, Kate McCann, Sir David Beckham, Sir Stephen Fry, Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen and many others.
The charity’s chief executive, Jo Youle, said: “This is what collective action can achieve, and Missing People is immensely proud to bring this service to the thousands of young people we know need it most.”
Noah's disappearance is 'incredibly concerning', says local MP
10:59 , Harriette BoucherVolunteers told 'not to grab Noah' if they see him
10:49 , Harriette BoucherVolunteers have been told “not to grab” or approach Noah if they find him as it might scare him.
The three year old is partially deaf, non-verbal and mildly autistic.
Sarah Keys, from Brantham Parish Council, told people searching for him: “If you see Noah, we need a gentle approach,” BBC reported.
“Do not grab him, it might scare him. Please call 999 and tell them where you are.”
Volunteers have been asked to download location system What Three Words to pinpoint their exact location.
"Please stay safe and work at least in pairs if not in groups. Do not put yourself at any risk, no heroics. We don't want to be rescuing anyone else today,” Ms Keys added.
"We need to focus on finding Noah."
What should you do if a child is missing - and what will happen next?
10:38 , Harriette BoucherA child is reported missing every two and a half minutes in the UK. In the critical moments after a child disappears, knowing what to do – and acting quickly – can make all the difference.
Paul Joseph, the head of helplines at charity Missing People, previously spoke to The Independent, saying the first step should always be to contact the police.
To report someone missing, you can call 101 or submit a report through your local police website. If it is urgent – or if a child has disappeared – call 999 immediately.
When filing a report, provide as much detail as possible: where the child was last seen, what they were wearing, what belongings they had, and places they often visit. A physical description, including any scars or birthmarks, is also vital.
If there is anything that makes them particularly vulnerable – such as a medical condition, mental health issue or risk from specific people – tell police immediately.
After filing a report, the police will aim to respond within an hour, assessing the level of risk before deciding on their next steps.
Depending on the level of concern, officers may search the home, check local hospitals, review CCTV, or knock on doors near where the child was last seen. They might also look at mobile or computer activity.
If you need help speaking to the police, or are seeking emotional support or advice, Missing People can help at any time of day.
If you are a child in need of help, call Childline on 0800 1111. If you are an adult worried about a child, call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000. If you are struggling or in distress, contact Samaritans on 116 123 (UK and ROI).
Father tells volunteers to avoid searching near pond
10:24 , Harriette BoucherThe father of Noah Woods has asked volunteers to avoid searching near the pond close to the playground that he went missing from yesterday.
Rhys Woods said the decoy pond had been searched “thoroughly” and the amount of people in the way was “making it hard to pick up the infrared signal we need”.
He said: “We still have nothing, all the emergency services and all of you have shown how strong this community is, with people coming from far and wide also, the emergency services are very confident that the high risk areas (Decoy pond, railway lines) are all clear.
“Thank you again for all your help, and I’m praying we find him,” he added.
10:10 , Harriette BoucherFather says Noah is mildly autistic and capable of everyday tasks
10:02 , Harriette BoucherNoah Woods father has said his son is mildly autistic, but capable of everyday tasks.
“To clear things up because people really do make up their own stories, he is only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss, he is fully capable of every day tasks,” Rhys Woods wrote on Facebook.
Suffolk Police said Noah is “described as non-verbal, has partial hearing loss and is currently undergoing an assessment for autism.”
The force said that he will not respond to his name.
'I can't go another night knowing he’s out there alone' Father urges volunteers to widen search
09:53 , Harriette BoucherThe father of the Noah Woods is urging volunteers to widen their search, saying he “cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone”.
Hundreds of people are understood to have joined the search for the three-year-old, with Rhys Woods thanking “every single one of you who have taken part in the search for our boy Noah.”
He wrote on Facebook: “Please don’t give up on him guys.
“He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”
Suffolk Police 'very concerned' about Noah's welfare
09:46 , Harriette BoucherSuffolk Police have said they are “very concerned” about Noah’s welfare and need to find him as a matter of urgency.
Superintendent Pete Partridge said in a statement:“A vast number of resources have been deployed by ourselves, our emergency services colleagues and volunteers from SULSAR. These resources have been bolstered by members of the public who have turned out in large numbers to assist and we are incredibly grateful for their help and support.
“Given that fast-moving nature of the investigation, it is important that any public searches are coordinated with police to ensure we are working together, and that our resources are directed where they can be most effective.”
He asked local residents not to “put themselves at risk or undertake independent searches overnight”, adding: “We will continue to keep Noah’s family and the public updated on the progress of our searches and investigation.”
Urgent search for missing boy, 3, ramps up
09:40 , Harriette BoucherMore than 100 people are understood to have joined the search for three-year-old Noah Woods, who went missing on Tuesday afternoon.
He was last seen at 3pm when he became separated from a relative after visiting the playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, near Manningtree.
Noah is believed to have run off down the alleyway beside the playground towards the new build housing estate, Suffolk Police officers said.
Police said specially trained officers and dog units have been searching the village, located near the estuary of the River Stour, since the afternoon.
They have been supported by helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard, with further support on the ground provided by the Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue and a vast number of members of the public.
