Summary

  • Police are searching for Noah Woods, 3, after he went missing from a playground in Suffolk on Tuesday at about 15:00 BST

  • Noah was with a relative in Brantham and is said to have run off down an alleyway towards a housing estate - what we know so far

  • Suffolk Police says Noah, who is partially deaf and non-verbal, will not respond to his name being called

  • Residents are being asked to check CCTV or doorbell cameras for any sightings of the boy, as well as their garden sheds and outbuildings

  • "He looked happy and healthy", says worker who believes he saw Noah in the playground shortly before he disappeared

  • Police have asked for search efforts by volunteers to be co-ordinated by officers and if anyone finds Noah to call 999 - here's where the search is happening

  • "Remember you are looking for a frightened three-year-old," parish council clerk Sarah Keys tells volunteers

Live Reporting

Written by Neve Gordon-Farleigh. Edited by Richard Haugh

  1. Listen: The search continues for Noah Woods

    Search continues for boy missing from playground.

  2. Volunteers split to cover field

    Zoie O'Brien
    in Brantham

    There’s at least 60 people currently walking the edges of the fields behind the housing estate where Noah was seen nearby yesterday.

    The groups have been split into those happy to cover difficult terrain and those to take pathways.

    In the distance groups of people are walking the perimeter of a field.Zoie O'Brien/BBC
    A group of women searching along a field in the search for Noah Woods.Zoie O'Brien/BBC
    A group of volunteers in fluorescent hi-vis vests searching a field.Zoie O'Brien/BBC

  3. Verges filled with cars as search continues

    Richard Daniel

    On the A134 approaching Brantham there are cars parked in every lay-by and on every verge as members of the public continue to help with the search for Noah.

    Cars parked in a lay-bay near Brantham as the search for Noah Woods continues.Richard Daniel/BBC

  4. 'We live near the playground,' says volunteer searcher

    Charlie Jones
    in Brantham

    Two women looking at the camera. The woman on the right has a baby in her armsCharlie Jones/BBC

    Stella Smith (left) is from Brantham and arrived at the village hall earlier with her niece Sian, who had her baby boy with her.

    They said they were out searching last night and came back this morning to carry on.

    "I live across the road from the park where Noah went missing and we go to that park all the time so I just wanted to do my bit to help," said Sian.

  5. Quiet searches along the River Stour

    Zoie O'Brien
    in Brantham

    Local people are searching the banks of the River Stour. They’re spread out across miles, searching in scrubland, bins, gardens and fields.

    People are clearly paying attention to the advice that Noah won’t react to shouting - it’s very quiet in the area.

    People in fluorescent hi-vis jackets walking along shrubbery. Their backs are turned to the camera.Zoie O'Brien/BBC
    A man in an orange fluorescent hi-vis jacket walking along an area of shrubbery. He is not looking at the camera and is walking off to the right.Zoie O'Brien/BBC

  6. Where are the searches taking place?

    A man dressed in a fluorescent T-shirt is looking down holding a MISSING CHILD poster which has a picture of Noah Woods on it.Jo Black/BBC

    Searches featuring members of the public have been co-ordinated with the help of Sarah Keys, clerk of Brantham Parish Council.

    This morning she briefed volunteers, splitting them into two teams; those able to cover footpaths and rough terrain and others more comfortable on estates.

    She says the search efforts are focused on:

    • Arable land around Brantham
    • Footpaths that lead to the estuary
    • Areas towards Manningtree and East Bergholt

    On Tuesday evening she said volunteers concentrated on areas that were well lit, whereas the police searched a nearby pond close to where Noah was last seen. She said developers of the new-build housing estate carried out a thorough search of the area.

  7. 'He looked happy and healthy as anything,' says worker

    Nick Johnson
    Reporting from Brantham

    Michael Crowley wears a hi-vis crew neck jumper while standing on a residential road.

    Michael Crowley says he was working opposite the playground where Noah went missing yesterday and saw him playing.

    He describes the three-year-old boy and another person playing happily on the swings at about 15:00. Police have said Noah was with a relative at the playground.

    When he got home and heard the news, Michael saw the picture of Noah Woods and said he immediately knew that’s who he saw in the playground.

    “He looked as happy and healthy as anything,” he said.

  8. Watch: Searches continue in Brantham

    Update from the scene on Wednesday morning

  9. Police conduct door-to-door inquiries in Brantham

    Mark Allison
    in Brantham

    A photograph of six police officers all dressed in black carrying out door to door inquiries.Mark Allison/BBC

    I'm near the alleyway where Noah was last seen yesterday. Police have taped off access to the public while their specialised teams search the surrounding woodland.

    Officers are also going door-to-door at the nearby Taylor Wimpey housing estate, asking if people have checked their doorbell cameras, gardens and any outbuildings.

    A female police officer, who has her back to the camera, is standing outside in front of a cordoned off area which has been taped off with blue and white police tape.Mark Allison/BBC

  10. 'Remember you are looking for a frightened child,' volunteers told

    Charlie Jones
    at Brantham Village Hall

    At least 500 people have left from the village hall this morning in groups of 10, according to Brantham Parish Council.

    As new volunteers continue to arrive, Sarah Keys from the council keeps briefing them, every half an hour.

    Sarah Keys in front of volunteersCharlie Jones/BBC

    Groups of people are being sent out to search areas away from the village. Those who have driven are being allocated areas to search further away.

    "Remember you are looking for a frightened three-year-old," she says.

    "If you find him, do not approach him but call 999. Do not draw attention to yourselves because we don't want crowds to scare him.

    "Use all of your senses, thoroughly check your gardens, sheds and outbuildings.

    "Look in small spaces. If you have private CCTV or a doorbell camera please review the footage."

  11. Road outside playground filled with people joining search effort

    Nick Johnson
    Reporting from Brantham

    Several individuals stand in a residential road with their backs to the camera. A playground is visible in the background.

    The community around this small village of Brantham is out in force trying, looking for any trace of three-year-old Noah Woods.

    The road outside the playground where he was last seen is filled with cars as people arrive to join the search effort.

    A police helicopter overhead is hovering over a rural area near a river and railway tracks to the east of the village.

  12. 'I really hope we get some good news', says PCC

    Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, said his heart went out to the friends and family of Noah Woods.

    Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, he urged people wanting to join the ongoing searches not to go out alone and to get direction from those co-ordinating the response.

    "As time goes by I really hope we can get some good news," he said. "I can't think of anything worse than a poor little three-year-old lad going missing and not being found.

    "My thoughts and prayers are with all the people involved and I really hope he gets found very, very quickly."

  13. Missing child posters circulated

    Zoie O'Brien

    Posters appealing for information about missing Noah Woods can now be seen in the Brantham area.

    Poster saying 'Missing child: Noah, age 3'Zoie O'Brien/BBC

  14. 'Mums have come out in force' says volunteer

    Charlie Jones
    at Brantham Village Hall

    A woman is outside Brantham Village Hall, holding a babyBBC/Charlie Jones

    Mother-of-two Isa has come down to Brantham to help with the search efforts this morning.

    "It's a very emotional thing," she says. "As a mum, you picture yourself in the family's shoes.

    "There are so many parents here helping and there is a huge local mums network on WhatsApp where we are all speaking and just doing whatever we can."

  15. Police set up portal for information on missing Noah

    Noah Woods is eating an ice lollyContributed

    A major incident public portal has been set up for people to submit any information regarding missing Noah Woods to the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk investigation team.

    Residents are being asked to thoroughly check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings, or any potential areas where a child might hide.

    People with CCTV or doorbell cameras have been asked to review the footage from 15:00 BST on Tuesday onwards for possible sightings. Motorists travelling through the village have also been asked to check their dashcam footage.

    Anyone who believes they have seen Noah is being asked to get in touch with Suffolk Police immediately.

  16. MP describes disappearance as 'incredibly concerning'

    James Cartlidge, the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, which covers Brantham, has posted on X: "Incredibly concerning to hear about three-year-old Noah, missing from Brantham since 3pm yesterday.

    "I simply can't imagine what his family and loved ones are going through, but they will be in the thoughts of us all.

    "I've spoken to Suffolk Police and like me, they're incredibly grateful to the community and all of the volunteers for their help with the search for missing Noah.

    "The police are sending more resources to Brantham this morning."

  17. Volunteers queueing outside the village hall

    Charlie Jones
    at Brantham Village Hall

    So many volunteers have turned up here at Brantham Village Hall to help in the search for Noah that there is a queue of people outside the door.

    They have run out of high-vis vests.

    Lauren White, who is helping co-ordinate the efforts, says: "The response from the community has been unbelievable. There are hundreds and hundreds of people who have been involved."

    BBCBBC/Charlie Jones

  18. What do we know about Noah?

    Three-year-old Noah Woods. A boy who is photographed sitting on a bed with a grey headboard and he is looking directly at the camera and smiling.Family handout

    Noah Woods had been visiting a playground in Merriam Close in Brantham on Tuesday with a relative.

    They became separated as they left at 15:00 BST and he's reported to have run off down an alleyway beside the playground towards a new-build housing estate.

    The three-year-old is described by police as white, with curly ginger hair and is said to be wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe.

    He is non-verbal, has partial hearing loss and is undergoing an assessment for autism.

    Suffolk Police said he would not respond to his name being called.

  19. Watch: Police statement from Tuesday night

    Police give update on search for three-year-old

  20. Volunteers asked 'not to grab Noah'

    Charlie Jones
    at Brantham Village Hall

    A busy room of volunteers

    We've just heard a briefing here at Brantham Village Hall, where hundreds of people have turned up to help.

    Sarah Keys, from Brantham Parish Council, asked the volunteers not to approach Noah if they see him. He is partially deaf, non-verbal and is soon to be assessed for autism.

    "If you see Noah, we need a gentle approach," she said. "Do not grab him, it might scare him. Please call 999 and tell them where you are."

    Volunteers are being asked to download What Three Words to pinpoint their exact location.

    Three women - the one in the middle is holding a laptop open

    Sarah Keys (centre) with other volunteers co-ordinating the search, Melissa Dark (left) and Lauren White (right)