Brantham: Missing Boy, 3, Sparks Major Search in Suffolk as Coastguard Helicopter Joins Hunt

A major search is under way for three-year-old Noah Woods, who went missing after visiting a playground in Brantham, Suffolk.

Noah was last seen at around 3:00pm on Tuesday, 15 September, after becoming separated from a relative following a visit to the playground in Merriam Close, Suffolk Police said.

Police said Noah was reported to have run down an alleyway beside the playground towards a nearby new-build housing estate. More than 100 people joined the search on Tuesday evening, according to reports, with police, emergency services and members of the public searching the area.

The community search effort was stood down for the night shortly after 10:00pm, while police searches continued overnight. An HM Coastguard helicopter was deployed alongside Coastguard Rescue Teams from Felixstowe and Holbrook to assist Suffolk Constabulary with the search.

Police Search Underway for Noah

Noah is described as white with curly ginger hair. He was wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe when he went missing, according to police.

Police said Noah is non-verbal, has partial hearing loss and is undergoing an assessment for autism. The force said he will not respond to his name.

Officers have been working alongside Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, Coastguard Rescue Teams, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and specialist police teams in the search.

Police have asked residents in Brantham to check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings for any sign of Noah. Search teams have been checking woodland, fields and other areas around the village as efforts to locate the child continue.

Coastguard Helicopter Joins Hunt

An HM Coastguard helicopter was sent to search the area on Tuesday afternoon, while Coastguard Rescue Teams from Felixstowe and Holbrook were also deployed. More than 100 people joined the searches on Tuesday evening, according to the BBC.

Train services in the Manningtree area were also reported to be running at reduced speeds during the search. Suffolk Police have urged anyone who believes they have seen Noah or has information about his whereabouts to contact officers.

Residents have also been asked to check their properties and report any possible sightings.

Family and Volunteers Join Search

Local residents joined police and emergency workers in searching areas around Brantham after Noah went missing. Brantham Parish Council said it had been overwhelmed by the response from residents and people from surrounding areas.

The parish council later asked members of the public who had been searching to stand down for the night while police continued their work.

Noah's father, Rhys Woods, thanked members of the public for helping with the search and asked people not to enter the Decoy Pond area, according to reports. He said the area had already been searched and that large numbers of people could interfere with efforts to detect an infrared signal.

Police are seeking information about Noah's movements after he reportedly ran down an alleyway beside the playground towards the new-build housing estate.

Police Issue Urgent Appeal

Suffolk Police have asked anyone who believes they have seen Noah to contact the force, quoting CAD 203 of 15 September. Residents in the Brantham area have also been asked to check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings.

Police searches continued through the night after the community search effort was stood down. Anyone with information about Noah's whereabouts is urged to contact Suffolk Police immediately.

Police, emergency services and members of the public continue to search for the missing three-year-old.