Live coverage concludes after a child’s body is found in a pond following a search of more than 24 hours.

Noah Woods was reported missing from Brantham, Suffolk, at about 3:00 p.m. BST on Tuesday. CCTV from the hour before he disappeared shows him playing at the playground on Merriam Close. He became separated from a relative after running down an alleyway toward a new housing estate.

The alarm triggered a multi-agency operation led by Suffolk Police, supported by search helicopters and other emergency services. Around 1,300 volunteers joined the hunt in what was widely described as a heartwarming community response.

Earlier on Wednesday, specialist divers from the Metropolitan Police began searching nearby Decoy Pond. That afternoon, Superintendent Tom Pearse confirmed that a body had been found in the pond, about 0.2 miles (320 metres) from where Noah was last seen.

Formal identification had not yet been completed, but Noah’s family had been informed.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday evening, Supt Pearse said: “As a parent myself, I completely understand why people would want to help. Such a response is one that typifies the strong sense of community and the heartwarming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place.”

source: BBC