Search continues for missing 3-year-old Noah Woods

Why it matters: Noah is non-verbal, has partial hearing loss and is currently undergoing an assessment for autism, meaning he will not respond to his name – factors that are shaping the scale and nature of the ongoing search.

The details: Police say the last confirmed sighting of Noah was on CCTV in a park at 14:37 on Tuesday, 15 September, when he became separated from a relative after visiting the playground in Merriam Close. He is reported to have run off down an alleyway beside the playground towards a nearby new-build housing estate.

Since he was reported missing, officers have carried out multiple enquiries, including deploying specialist search officers and dog units. Searches have been assisted by helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard, with ground support from HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue and a significant number of members of the public.

Searches are continuing today, Wednesday, 16 September. Officers are reviewing CCTV and doorbell footage, with further house-to-house enquiries and additional foot, aerial and thermal searches planned.

What he looks like: Noah is white, with curly ginger hair. He was wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe. Police have released images and CCTV footage of his last movements at the playpark.

What they're saying: Superintendent Tom Pearse said: "It has now been around 24 hours since Noah was reported as missing to us and we are doing everything we can to find him.

"We are extremely grateful for the support shown by the public. If you are helping please report into the co-ordination centre to ensure the search continues to be done in a systematic and co-ordinated fashion. This will ensure we can carefully plan and take account of people supporting the search. We politely ask people to avoid open waters and railways – these are areas that require specialist and professional expertise. We also ask that personal drones are not used as these can interfere with specialist search equipment.

"There may also be times when officers may need to restrict access to certain areas or move away from search locations. Please do not be offended if this happens; it is necessary to allow us to carry out our enquiries and search activity as effectively as possible.

"This is being treated as a missing person investigation at this stage and there is nothing to indicate anything sinister or any element of criminality has taken place although we keep an open mind as to the circumstances.

"We continue to call on local residents to please check your gardens, sheds and outbuildings, or any other place a child may have been hidden or sought shelter.

"Please also review CCTV or doorbell cameras, and for motorists travelling in and around Brantham to review any dashcam footage from 15:00 yesterday."

How to help: Anyone who believes they have seen Noah or may know where he is is asked to contact Suffolk Police. Information can be submitted via the force's online reporting form, or by phoning 0800 051 6076 – the public are advised to use this number rather than 101. A Live Chat service is also available via the Suffolk Constabulary website. Anyone who sees Noah should phone 999 immediately.

The bottom line: With searches into their second day, police are urging residents in and around Brantham to check gardens, sheds and outbuildings, and to review any relevant CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage, as the effort to find Noah continues.

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