A CHILD’S body has tragically been found in a pond amid the frantic hunt for a missing non-verbal and partially deaf three-year-old boy.

Little Noah Woods vanished on Tuesday afternoon after running off from a playground – sparking a huge search operation in Brantham, Suffolk.

Little Noah vanished on Tuesday afternoon after running off from a playground

Sussex Police has now confirmed a body has been found in the search

Noah, who is partly deaf and non-verbal, had been with his granddad before disappearing from an under 5s playground in Merriam Close.

He is understood to have run off down an alleyway next to the park towards a new build housing estate and a large pond.

Dog units, police and Coastguard helicopters were deployed, while a “vast amounts” of locals joined the desperate hunt for the tot.

The Met Police deployed specialist divers to search Decoy Pond, a fishing lake about 0.2 miles away from the park where Noah disappeared.

CCTV released by cops shows Noah running around an under 5s play park at 2.37pm

But the mood among those searching for Noah became increasingly desperate as darkness fell with no sign of the youngster.

In an update this evening, Suffolk Police Superintendent Tom Pearse tragically confirmed that a child’s body was found amid the frantic search for Noah.

Speaking at a press conference, Pearse said: “Police have recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond in Brantham.

“Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of Noah Woods have been informed of this development.”

The youngster is said to have run off toward a new build housing estate, which is located near Decoy Pond – where police divers were deployed.

Brantham Parish Council had previously urged residents to check gardens, sheds and “under furniture” in a desperate plea on social media.

Crews from Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service and Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue were also drafted in to help with the search operation.

The area is surrounded by woodland, thick bushes and fields leading down to the main railway line between Ipswich and London.

The little boy ran off, down an alleyway and towards a new-build housing estate and fishing lake nearby

Little Noah went missing from a playground and went in the direction of a fishing lake 0.2 miles away

Scores of people scoured the area on Tuesday to try and find any trace of the missing youngster.

The River Stour is on the other side of the railway track from where Noah disappeared.

Many were seen walking and searching the river banks by torchlight.

Firefighters were also seen looking under cars and over garden walls close to the playground.

Issuing an update on Wednesday morning, the local authority confirmed there had been no sightings of Noah since he disappeared.

Suffolk Police had advised search parties that Noah would not respond to his name being called.

Speaking this evening, Superintendent Tom Pearse said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all who knew him.

“Since Noah was reported as missing vast number of our officers and staff have been deployed in numerous functions in the search for Noah and support for his family.

A diver searching the water for the little boy

Volunteers turned out in droves to search for Noah

“We’ve been supported by the National Police Air Service, Suffolk HART, SULSAR, Environment Agency, HM Coastguard, Fire and Rescue Service and the ambulance service.

“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support, people putting on their boots and helping us search.

“As a parent myself, I completely understand why people would want to help and such a response is one that typifies the strong sense of community and the heart-warming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place.

“I am sure you appreciate the family now need time, space and privacy and I thank you for your understanding in this.”

Volunteers who had helped with the search effort sobbed as they comforted each other after the briefing.

Shortly before 5.40pm a forensics van was seen driving down to the pond police divers had been searching.

Noah’s dad Rhys Woods previously said he “cannot go another night knowing he is out there alone” as he made an urgent appeal to the local community.

Rhys said: “[Noah] is only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss, he is fully capable of everyday tasks.

“This means knowing our boy, he has gone even further, could I ask that all of you brilliant people out there today expand further if you are able to?

“I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone, please don’t give up on him guys.

“He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40394054/body-found-search-missing-deaf-boy/