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A major search is continuing in Brantham, Suffolk, for three-year-old Noah Woods, who went missing from a playground on Tuesday afternoon, with police urging volunteers to widen their efforts beyond the village as the search enters a second day.
Noah was at the playground on Merriam Close at about 3pm on Tuesday, 15 September, when he reportedly ran away down a nearby alleyway towards a new-build housing estate, according to Suffolk Police. Emergency services and members of the public have since been involved in extensive searches across the surrounding area.
Police Sergeant Claire Connick told volunteers gathered at Brantham Village Hall on Wednesday that search teams should move away from the village centre and concentrate on surrounding areas, including East Bergholt and Manningtree, before working their way back towards Brantham.
Members of the public have continued to turn out to help search for Noah, with volunteers being briefed at Brantham Leisure Centre before groups were deployed to different areas.
Mal Bridgeman, chairman of Brantham Parish Council, said he had been struck by the response from members of the community. He said people had searched throughout the night, while volunteers had travelled from as far away as Birmingham. Specialist searchers from Hampshire had also joined the operation after hearing about Noah's disappearance.
The scale of the community response has developed alongside a substantial police presence in Brantham. Community support officers are also being deployed to assist communication between officers and local residents during the continuing operation.
Suffolk Police have asked residents to search their gardens, sheds, outbuildings and other areas where a young child could potentially be located.
The force is also appealing to anyone with private CCTV or doorbell-camera footage in Brantham to review recordings from around 3pm on Tuesday onwards. Drivers who travelled through the village during that period have similarly been asked to check dashcam footage for anything that could assist investigators in establishing Noah's movements.
Police have continued their appeal for information and stressed the importance of reporting any potential sighting directly to the authorities.
Noah is described as white, with curly ginger hair. At the time he disappeared, he was wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and white trainers.
Suffolk Police have also said Noah is non-verbal and has partial hearing loss. He has been undergoing an assessment for autism, information that search teams and members of the public have been asked to take into account when looking for him.
The search has involved multiple emergency services and specialist teams, including HM Coastguard.
HM Coastguard confirmed that it assisted Suffolk Constabulary by deploying a helicopter and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Felixstowe and Holbrook to support the operation around Brantham.
A search-and-rescue helicopter has also been operating over the surrounding area as emergency services continue efforts to locate the missing child.
Brantham Leisure Centre has urged residents to carry out thorough checks of their own properties and those of neighbours, including areas behind bins, vehicles and other potential hiding places.
The continuing search has prompted a significant response from people in Brantham and neighbouring communities, with residents volunteering their time and offering assistance to the emergency services.
James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk, described Noah's disappearance as deeply concerning and urged anyone who might have information to contact Suffolk Police.
The search remains ongoing, and police continue to ask members of the public to remain alert while avoiding actions that could interfere with formal search activity.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that police are particularly interested in information, CCTV, doorbell footage and dashcam recordings that could help establish Noah's movements after he was last seen at Merriam Close.
Anyone who believes they may have seen Noah, or who has footage that could assist the investigation, should contact Suffolk Police directly and provide the relevant details.
The priority for police, emergency responders and volunteers remains locating Noah and establishing what happened after he left the playground.
