Police searching for a missing schoolboy will turn their attention to Banchory today after a fresh twist in their investigation.
Liam Smith caught a bus from Aberdeen on Saturday and has not been seen since, prompting his “shocked and devastated” mother to make an emotional plea for him to come home.
It was thought the 16-year-old had got off a bus in Lumphanan on Saturday, so officers began scouring the countryside around the rural village yesterday.
A helicopter circled looking for traces of the Westhill Academy pupil while sniffer dogs were sent into a forest and police divers patrolled a burn.
Officers also went door-to-door to see if residents could help piece together his movements.
But last night officers said they were “confident” that the boy seen alighting the bus there was not in fact Liam, and now believe he travelled to Banchory on the 202 bus.
Liam’s mum, Alix Smith, made an emotional plea for assistance as the teenager’s whereabouts remained a mystery.
She said: “It has now been three days since we last saw Liam and we are completely shocked and devastated by his disappearance.
“We are so worried about him and really anxious to find him and take him home.
“If Liam sees this message I don’t want him to be concerned about being in any trouble.
“I just want to find him.”
BLACK FRIDAY OFFER: Two years of unlimited access to The P&J Digital — at better than half price!
Mrs Smith appealed for anyone who saw her son on, or leaving, the bus to “please, please, please” share any information with the police.
She added: “I would also like to appeal to people in the area to check their sheds and outbuildings as he may be taking shelter somewhere.
“We are desperate to find him and we are becoming increasingly concerned.”
The slim 6ft 4ins teenager, who is a keen footballer, is known to have left his house on Queen’s Road in Aberdeen and visited the McDonald’s restaurant on Union Street before catching a 202 Stagecoach bus from Union Square at 1.11pm on Saturday.
Chief Inspector Martin Mackay said: “We are continuing to urge anyone with information to come forward and we now would particularly ask people in the Banchory area to think back to Saturday and consider if they have seen Liam then or at any time since.
“We know that Liam bought a ticket for Raemoir Road, Banchory and would ask anyone who may have been in that area around 2pm to think back to that time as they may be able to assist us in establishing his current whereabouts.
“Naturally Liam’s family is extremely concerned and we just want to trace him as soon as possible to ensure he is safe and well.
“I would also like to thank residents in Lumphanan for their support of our inquiries today and continue to urge anyone with information to let us know as soon as possible.”
He urged anyone who was passing the Banchory area, who has dash cam footage from around 2pm on Saturday, to come forward.
Liam has short brown hair and he was wearing a dark top, blue jeans and Nike Air Max trainers when he was last seen.
He is understood to be carrying a camouflage North Face backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101 using reference number 1302 of November 18.
