Police in Gisborne say searches for a missing four-year-old boy have so far proved fruitless.
Lucas Ward disappeared about 3pm on Tuesday from the backyard of his grandmother's home in Graham Road in the suburb of Kaiti.
Inspector Sam Aberahama says police and volunteers who searched unsuccessfully on Tuesday night have not turned up any positive leads on Wednesday.
Mr Aberahama says a police dive squad searched parts of the Waimata River but found nothing.
He says two people have come forward, saying they saw a little boy fitting Lucas's description and police are also following up three other possible sightings.
Mr Aberahama says Lucas is a bit of an extrovert and known to be a wanderer. However, he is confident the boy will be found and reunited with his family.
The boy is described as Pakeha, with blonde hair and, when last seen, was barefoot and wearing a light blue sweatshirt and dark-coloured trackpants.
