Extraordinary moment father discovers his missing 10-year-old son crying in a BUSH after huge overnight search involving a police helicopter, sniffer dogs and dozens of volunteers

• Lewis Edwards, ten, had not been seen for 18 hours since 7.30pm yesterday
• The boy’s bicycle was later found on a path nearby with a helmet next to it 
• Father found him in a bush at 1.30pm today in home village of Styal, Cheshire 
• Police helicopter hovered and two search groups with seven dogs helped out 

This is the extraordinary moment a father was reunited with his missing ten-year-old son today after finding him hiding in a bush. 

Lewis Edwards, of Styal, Cheshire, was found this afternoon, having been missing since he left home on his bicycle 18 hours earlier at 7.30pm last night. 

But his father Scott Boughton – who said he had been out overnight looking for his son ‘everywhere’ and in ‘every field’ – found him safe and well at 1.30pm today.  

The moment the father of Lewis Edwards finds him in a bush in Styal, Cheshire, this afternoon

Lewis, who was found this afternoon (left) had not been since he vanished at 7.30pm yesterday

The father clutches his son today following a huge police search operation in Cheshire

Two groups from the Calderdale Search and Rescue Team with seven dogs helped officers

Earlier, Mr Boughton had said: ‘We’ve been out since 8pm last night. We’ve searched everywhere, every field. I don’t know what to do. I just want my son back.’

Residents in the Wilmslow area had been asked to search their gardens, garages and sheds for the boy, in case Lewis had stayed somewhere overnight.

The boy’s bicycle was discovered on a woodland pathway near his home with a helmet next to it, before his father found him hours later in the bush.

Earlier, a police helicopter hovered overheard, and two groups from the Calderdale Search and Rescue Team with seven dogs helped officers with their search.

Lewis has links to neighbouring Wythenshawe, and officers from Cheshire Police had suggested that he could have been travelling towards the area. 

A footpath in the village of Styal where a bicycle was found in the search for ten-year-old Lewis

Residents told of a large police presence in the Cheshire village today. A patrol car is pictured

Residents in the Wilmslow area had been asked to search their gardens, garages and sheds

He was described as 4ft 6in and slim with short, dark blonde hair and two stripes shaved onto the side. He was wearing a purple T-shirt and jeans when he left home.

Residents told of a large police presence in the locality today. Numerous police cars, search and rescue teams as well as the police helicopter were seen in the area.

This afternoon, a police spokesman said: ‘We are pleased to report that the 10-year-old boy who was missing from the Wilmslow area has been found safe and well. 

‘A big thank you to everyone that shared our appeal and to all those who offered their help and support. 

Earlier, Chief Inspector Jez Taylor, who was co-ordinating the search, said how the force had become ‘increasingly concerned’ about the whereabouts of Lewis.

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