DOZENS of people joined in a massive search for a six-year-old boy after he went missing near his home.

The boy disappeared at about 8.20pm on Thursday night near his home in Kings Hill.

He was found five hours later after police organised a search using dogs and a Sussex Police helicopter.

Superintendent Steve Corbishley, deputy area commander for Mid Kent police, said: "We would like to thank everyone who came out last night and took part in our search for this boy.

"It was naturally a very distressing time for his parents and the support showed by the local community and our partners in Sussex was a great help in ultimately locating him."

* See the Kent Messenger for the full story.