Authorities and volunteers are conducting an extensive search for a three-year-old autistic boy who went missing in Brantham, Suffolk, on Tuesday afternoon. Noah Woods was last seen around 3 p.m. after becoming separated from a relative during a visit to a local playground near the River Stour estuary.

Noah, who is partially deaf and non-verbal, is described as having ginger hair and was wearing a white T-shirt featuring the television character Bluey, along with shorts and white trainers. Reports indicate he ran down an alleyway toward a newly developed housing estate in the area.

Suffolk Constabulary has mobilized multiple resources, including drones, to aid in the search efforts. The Coastguard also deployed a helicopter that was observed flying over nearby fields and forests. Police have urged residents in Brantham and surrounding communities to check their gardens, sheds, and outbuildings for any sign of the child.

Local volunteers have joined the official search, coordinating efforts to cover wooded areas and residential zones. Authorities emphasized the urgency of locating Noah, given his vulnerabilities related to his age and medical needs.

The investigation remains active, with police continuing to gather information and canvass the neighborhood. Officials have appealed to anyone with information about Noah’s whereabouts to come forward immediately.