Three-year-old Noah Woods disappeared after running from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a major search involving police, coastguards, firefighters and more than 2,000 members of the public. A child’s body was later found in nearby Decoy Pond, about 250 yards from the playground; formal identification is pending, but Noah’s parents have been informed and the case has been referred to the coroner.

Noah was non-verbal, had partial hearing loss and was undergoing tests for autism, increasing concern about his safety. Police believe he may have reached the pond soon after leaving the playground, while hundreds of villagers have since left flowers, candles, toys and messages at the spot where he was last seen, including tributes featuring Bluey, one of his favourite characters.