Thousands of people have joined the search to find a missing teenager who hasn’t been seen for nearly a week.

The hunt to find James Gibbons, 16, has seen a Kent village and worried residents around the county rally together as concerns for his welfare grow day by day.

Police are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have seen the teenager, who was last seen in Cuxton, near Rochester, at around 1pm on Saturday.

A ‘Help find James Gibbons’ group has seen more than 3,700 people join the page on Facebook to offer their support, help, or offer ideas in the investigation.

Large banners have been erected near busy roads and posters plastered around the village.

Best One shopkeeper Mel said everyone has been worried sick and wants him to be found as soon as possible.

“I can’t imagine what his parents are going through,” she said. “I have a son a similar age and it would be my worse nightmare.

“The whole village has been looking or helping in some way. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed.

“On Sunday, I saw a lot of people searching and officers in the woods. Ever since they’ve been here all week.

“We’re all doing what we can but sometimes you feel helpless.”

Further up the road at the Co-Op shop, opposite the social club where police and search crews are set up, the store has set up a donation bank for people to buy things for the Gibbons family.

Kent Search & Rescue have also been called into the assist.

So far, technicians, management teams and members from their dog unit have volunteered 500 hours of their time and trekked through a combined 258km, an area covering around 530 football pitches, in the past few days.

A spokesman said: “The teams continued work wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for the support and donations from the local community in Cuxton.

“Also a huge thank you to Sallie Abrahamson and Jill Sayer from Cuxton Social Club and Golden River Chinese Takeaway.”

The youngster was caught on CCTV walking along an alleyway before heading in the direction of woodland on the day of his disappearance.

Yesterday (November 13), the most recent update from police revealed the search has expanded to include rural and wooded areas around the village.

After revising additional CCTV footage, the force knows James walked into an alleyway off Woodhurst Close at 12.52pm. He then continued in the direction of Cuxton Woods.

The teenager is described as being around 5ft 11ins with brown hair.

He also wears braces on his teeth and has a scar on the right-hand side of the back of his head, that is described as being similar in shape to a question mark.

James is believed to have been wearing brown tracksuit bottoms, a grey zipped hooded top, a white shirt with a light brown/blue chequered pattern, black socks and black material trainers.

Police are renewing their appeal with another image of James and seeking more sightings as part of the ongoing search effort.

Chief Inspector Garry Cook said: “I’d like to once again urge residents with private CCTV and drivers with dashcam to check for footage that may show him after 1pm on Saturday November 9

“Our searches have included rural and wooded areas around the village and we are asking dog walkers, hikers and horse riders to continue looking out for James.

“Anyone who sees anything they think may be relevant is urged call us urgently.”

Anyone with information should call 999, quoting reference 09-1043.