The father of Daniel Entwistle, who went missing nearly 12 years ago at the age of seven, has been found dead at his home in Suffolk.

East Anglian Daily Times: Daniel Entwistle went missing in 2003.Daniel Entwistle went missing in 2003. (Image: Archant)

Daniel went missing in Great Yarmouth, and was last seen on CCTV at a store in the town on May 3 2003.

His father, David, was found dead in Lowestoft on Wednesday, and police have said they were treating the death as “non-suspicious”.

He had led several campaigns to find Daniel and a fresh appeal for information was launched in 2013.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out.

A Norfolk police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we have been informed of the death of Daniel Entwistle’s father. It is not a matter for Norfolk Constabulary and a file is with the coroner in Suffolk.”

Daniel Entwistle was seven when he went missing from his home in Copperfield Avenue, Great Yarmouth on May 3, 2003 - a May Bank Holiday weekend.

His parents Paula and David became concerned when he failed to return for tea and started to look for him, enlisting the assistance of friends and neighbours. A major police investigation was soon underway.

Daniel was identified on the CCTV at Blencowes, a local convenience store near his home at around 5.05pm that day.

His little red BMX bike was found abandoned near to the river, close to Trinity Quay, in the early hours of next morning.

Despite the huge police search and appeals at the time, no trace of Daniel was ever found.

On the ten year anniversary of his disappearance police made a renewed appeal for information.

Detectives were keen to hear from anyone with new information to get in touch to help provide some closure for his family.