Detectives investigating the disappearance of a boy who went missing from a seaside resort nine years ago have issued a renewed plea for information on the anniversary of the day he vanished.

Daniel Entwistle was just seven years old when he disappeared from near his home at Copperfield Avenue, Great Yarmouth on Saturday, May 3, 2003.

It was a bank holiday weekend and Daniel had been out playing with friends but his parents, Paula and David Entwistle became concerned later that evening when he failed to return for tea.

The couple started to look for him and enlisted the assistance of friends and neighbours but he could not be found and a police investigation was launched.

Despite a major police search and investigation involving many people and other agencies no trace of Daniel has ever been found. He remains a missing person to this day.

Detective Superintendent Julian Gregory, head of the joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team (MIT) who was the senior investigating officer in the case at the time, said: 'Since we closed the investigation, which was later in the same year he disappeared, we haven't been actively pursuing inquiries but we have responded to and will continue to respond to any new information that comes in.

'If anyone knows what happened to Daniel or has information they may think is of use to us then please make contact with the MIT ringing 101 in the first instance.'

Daniel was identified on the CCTV at Blencowes, a local convenience store nearby to his home at around 5.05pm on Saturday, May 3.

There were other potential sightings of Daniel during that day including being with a group of other boys seen playing near to the river at Trinity Quay at around 3.30pm.

His little red BMX bike was found abandoned near to the river close to Trinity Quay in the early hours of next morning.

Daniel was described as being 3ft 2ins, of thin build with light brown cropped short hair. He had a pale complexion and a strong Northern accent.

Daniel was last seen wearing a blue Adidas T-shirt with striped sleeves and an Adidas motif on the chest, blue tracksuit bottoms and grey coloured training shoes.

Daniel's case is one of a number of investigations looked at by Norfolk Constabulary's cold case team, set up in August 2008 to investigate murders, missing people and serious sexual offences still unresolved.

To view the cold cases log on to the website www.norfolk.police.uk, click on news and events and then cold cases.

Anyone with information about the case, or any of the other cold cases, should call 101 or email coldcaseteam@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.