The vicar of St Michael's in Brantham has praised the community for coming together in a way he had never seen before in the search for missing three-year-old Noah Woods.

More than 1,300 people joined the search after Noah disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, at about 3:00pm on Tuesday. A child's body was found at a nearby pond the following afternoon.

Speaking to the BBC, Rev Chris Willis said the togetherness shown by the community was a "thread of positivity" amif tragedy.

He added that people had come together with a "deep, common concern" to find Noah.

"Everybody was as one," he said. "There was a real coming together of people and a willingness to work together."

People travelled from as far as Birmingham and Hampshire, joining police, helicopter crews and dog units in searches around the village and River Stour.

Rev Chris said the discovery of the body was "devastating", adding that the community's focus must now be on Noah's family.

About 100 bunches of flowers have been left at the playground where Noah was last seen, while more than £21,000 has been donated to a fundraiser for his family.

Rev Chris said Brantham had faced tragedy before and would "pull together" again.

"There was a love shown; that was my first impression," he said. "I hope and believe we'll see that continue."