Detectives looking for a seven-year-old boy who vanished after playing with friends in a park have found the body of a child on a construction site.

South Yorkshire Police believe the body to be that of Conley Thompson, from Barnsley, who was last seen on Sunday evening playing with friends a mile away from the construction site on Bank End Road in Worsbrough.

Police said the body was found at approximately 8.30am. Conley's family have been informed.

Detective Inspector Victoria Short leading the investigation said: "We deployed our full resources with officers searching throughout the night to find Conley and we are deeply saddened by this tragic development.

"While it is early in the investigation, the death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

"Our thoughts remain with Conley's family and friends at this very difficult time."

Glasgow Times:

Detectives looking for the schoolboy cordoned off the building site this morning, as dozens of police scoured the areas for clues as to his whereabouts.

It came as his school made a public appeal for information about his disappearance.

Nichola Thorpe, headteacher of Worsbrough Bank End Primary School, wrote on Facebook: "Dear families, can you help?

"Conley is missing since last night (Sunday) and the police are looking for him. We pray that he is safe and has stayed with friends.

"Please share and spread the word to get him home safe and well."

Police said Conley had gone to play with his friends in Locke Park at around 6pm yesterday.

He is believed to have left around two hours later and was due to return home to Underwood Avenue in Worsbrough, but never turned up.

The youngster was reported missing a short time later.

He was last seen wearing a blue checked shirt, red shoes, a black coat and brown trousers.

A police spokesman said: "Formal identification of the body is yet to take place; however, it is believed to be that of Conley."

Glasgow Times:

People have started to lay flowers and teddies next to the construction site where Conley Thompson was found this morning.

Wayne Bolton went with his son, Finley, four, to pay his respects.

He said the first he heard was the helicopter being used to search for the boy on Sunday night.

Mr Bolton said: "We are not friends with the family, but it's tragic what's happened and it just makes you appreciate what you have.

"I can't begin to imagine what that family are going through.

"It was such a tragic accident, hopefully, and we just want to show support for the family and to be fair the whole community has turned up. It's shocked everyone and everyone is in bits and luckily, in an area like this, everyone comes together and we all help each other."