Schoolboy, 15, missing for nearly an entire month as police issue fresh search update

Merseyside Police have launched 'extensive enquiries' to try to find missing teenager, Shay Brown, looking especially in Liverpool, Smithdown Road and Lawrence Road in Wavertree

Police are becoming "increasingly concerned" about a schoolboy who has been missing from home for nearly a month. Shay Brown, 15, disappeared on Thursday October 3.

Merseyside Police launched 'extensive enquiries' to try to find the missing teenager and the search is ongoing. Officers are now appealing to the public to help in their search.

Shay is 5ft 2in tall, slim build with shoulder-length dark brown hair. The 15-year-old was last seen wearing a black tracksuit, a black rainproof jacket, with black and grey Nike trainers and gold necklaces.

Police said the Shay goes into Liverpool often, specifically Smithdown Road and Lawrence Road in Wavertree.

If anyone spots Shay, they can pass on sightings via Merseyside Police's form here or any other information to @MerPolCC or 101, reports the Liverpool Echo.

This comes after the news today that a "kind and loving" elderly man was the fatal victim of a horrific house explosion in Bedford.

Paul Swales was killed in the explosion at his house in Cleat Hill on October 19. A woman in her 80s, a family member, remains in hospital with serious injuries after being pulled from the blaze.

Paying tribute to Mr Swales, his family said: "Paul was a kind and loving man who we dearly miss. We thank the emergency services for their professionalism and the kind and heartfelt messages that have been received by everyone.

"A special thanks goes to the gentleman that bravely pulled our family member from the fire. Our thoughts are also with the people that have been impacted since and we hope the distress will soon end."

Increased levels of natural gas were identified in the ground after the explosion and the immediate area around Cleat Hill was evacuated, Bedfordshire Police previously said.

The force said they were thought to be naturally occurring gasses from an underground source, and not from the gas pipe network.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said that natural gas had been discovered "coming out from the ground" in June during some building work nearby.

Describing the explosion, she said: "I just heard the bang, I heard a mighty bang that was really massive. I can't describe it. I've never heard anything like it." She said the "whole roof" of the affected house "came off" in the explosion.