Tributes have been paid to Conley Thompson after a body was found in the the hunt for missing Barnsley boy.
Officers searching for the seven-year-old confirmed the body of a child had been found at about 8.30am today on a construction site on Bank End Road, Worsbrough Dale.
Locals have told the Chronicle the body was discovered by construction staff working on the site, who raised the alarm and called police.
Formal identification of the body is yet to take place, however police have said it is believed to be that of Conley, who lives just streets away from where the body was found, at Underwood Avenue in Bank End.
His mother, Paula Thompson, and family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
It has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many residents watching on as the grim scene unfolded throughout the morning.
Many have laid flowers at the scene and paid their respects to the little lad.
Wayne Bolton laid flowers with his son Finley, four.
"We just want to show some support for the family," he said.
"It's tragic what's happened.
"I can't begin to imagine what that family are going through.
"It's shocked everyone.
"Luckily, in an area like this, everyone comes together and we all help each other."
Others who knew Conley said he was a keen footballer who loved playing outside, describing him as an 'active young lad' and 'just like any other seven-year-old'. Kimberley Burns, 16, who once baby-sat for Conley and knows his mother Paula, said he was 'a mint lad'. "I used to take him round to the park to play football and we'd make our own team up. He was a really nice kid, a mint little lad. "My step-mum rang me up this morning and said have you heard? I can't believe it, it's devastating.
"Thing is, I was walking up here (on Bank End Road) at 4am this morning and that's what's getting me because I didn't hear anything. It was silent." Detective Inspector Victoria Short, who is 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 will take place in due course. "Our thoughts remain with Conley's family and friends at this very difficult time."
House-to-house enquiries are now underway by officers, concentrating on streets surrounding the construction site and those close to where Conley lived.
He was last seen at Locke Park in Barnsley where he had gone to play with friends at about 6pm. He is believed to have left the park at 8pm and was due to return home - but never turned. He was reported missing shortly after.
Last night police launched a widespread search for the lad, involving about 50 officers. A police helicopter was also deployed as part of the efforts.
