UPDATE – Police have confirmed the 12-year-old missing from West Bay has been found safe and well.

On Friday officers from West Bay became concerned for the safety and well-being of a 12-year-old boy who had been missing since Thursday 22 December 2011.

Richard Powell was last seen by his mother at their home in Hettie’s Lane, West Bay, when she left him, and his 7-year-old sister, to go to work at 7.45am.

When she returned from work yesterday evening, at approximately 6.30pm, she found her daughter at home, but Richard was missing.

She then made contact with family and friends and, when she was unable to trace her son, she contacted the police.

Police said the boy was located in the West Bay area.