A body has been found in the search for missing three-year-old boy Noah Woods, police have confirmed.

Noah disappeared at about 15:00 BST on Tuesday from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, after becoming separated from a relative.

Supt Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police said dive teams recovered the body of a child from a nearby pond.

He said the death was being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

Supt Pearse said formal identification had yet to take place, but Noah’s family had been informed.

“Our thoughts are with Noah’s family and all those who knew him,” he said.

“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support and people putting on their boots to help.”

Police said at least 1,300 members of the public had helped in the search for the missing boy, who was non-verbal and partially deaf.

People from as far afield as Birmingham and Hampshire had turned up to help.

Helicopters, dog units and members of the public had been scouring the area, close to the estuary of the River Stour on the Essex border.

Volunteer efforts had been co-ordinated from Brantham Leisure Centre and the village hall, which ran out of hi-vis vests due to the number of volunteers.

Those looking for Noah had been told he would not respond to shouting.

Michael Crowley, who was working opposite the playground on Tuesday and was one of the last people to see Noah before he went missing, said: “He looked happy and healthy as anything.”

Jessica Gammons, a mother-of-two from Kelvedon, in Essex, was among the many volunteers who went out to look for the toddler.

She said she felt compelled join the search, despite being heavily pregnant, because her son, like Noah, is three years old.

“I kept thinking to myself ‘If this was my son, I’d want everyone possible to help,'” she said.

“It’s such a sad situation. I can’t stop thinking about him.”

Searches had widened to include East Bergholt and Manningtree, over the Essex border, on Wednesday.

Divers from the Metropolitan Police were called in to search Decoy Pond, a nearby fishing lake.

The pond is about 350 yds (320m) away from the playground where Noah was last seen.

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

“We’ve been supported by Suffolk HART (Hazardous Area Response Team), SULSAR (Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue), Environment Agency, HM Coastguard, Fire and Rescue Service and the ambulance service.

“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.”