LIVE: Police continue desperate search for 'very vulnerable' missing boy as family appeal for help

The family of a 'very vulnerable' missing 14-year-old boy are appealing for help to find him - as police continue their desperate search.

Luke Howe went missing from his grandparents' home in Hale in Trafford just before 6.15pm yesterday (Thursday, January 18). He was last seen on Bankhall Lane, police said.

Searches for Luke, who has global developmental delays and autism, have been ongoing through the night and into this morning - with no sign of him yet. The searches have focused on the River Bollin in Hale and the River Mersey in south Manchester, as well as the surrounding areas.

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Luke's family have now set up a public Facebook group with members of the public urged to help if they can by keeping an eye out in areas around the Bollin, Mersey, in Hale, Sale, Altrincham and Wythenshawe. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Luke's auntie Jessica Howe said the family 'incredibly grateful' to those out helping.

She described how Luke has 'no concept of danger' due to his learning difficulties. "We're just absolutely beside ourselves, his parents are inconsolable", she said.

She added that police have been out with drones overnight with sniffer dogs also deployed in the search. Greater Manchester Police confirmed Luke was classed as high-risk and that a search is ongoing.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 101 or 999 quoting 2710 of 18/01/2024.

Follow our live blog below for the very latest updates on the search as we get them.

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There's a huge search effort going on this