Missing boy sparks major Dunfermline land and air search

Harley McLay, 9, was found around four hours after he wandered off from supermarket

A young boy who went missing from a supermarket in Dunfermline on Saturday was found safe and well following an extensive search.

Members of the public were asked to look out for nine-year-old Harley McLay who wandered off from the Asda store in Halbeath Road at around 12.30pm on Saturday.

Police issued an appeal amid concerns for his welfare, stressing that he was not local to the area and that he may be lost.

However, Police Scotland confirmed at around 4.45pm that he had been traced on Aberdour Road – which is around two miles away from where he disappeared.

It is understood all available police resources were diverted to Dunfermline to try to locate the boy as swiftly as possible.

A large police presence could be seen in and around the busy supermarket early in the afternoon, and officers were spotted searching areas near Queen Margaret Hospital as the hunt widened.

The force’s helicopter from Glasgow was summoned and could be seen hovering in the sky above the town from shortly after 3.30pm onwards as officers strived to locate the youngster before darkness fell.

It is believed Harley became separated from his carer.

When news of the boy’ s disappearance reached staff, shop workers at Asda downed tools to help look for him in the store and shoppers were asked if they had seen the boy as more and more officers descended on the area.

Door-to-door inquiries were then being carried out along Halbeath Road, while fans making their way to the Dunfermline v Falkirk match at East End Park were also asked to keep a lookout.

The police’s dog squad could be seen at Halbeath Retail Park and officers were visiting all of the businesses in the area to find out if he had been seen. Leisure facilities and restaurants in Duloch Park were similarly approached.

Social media appeals were also shared hundreds of times, but mercifully confirmation came from Police Scotland that he had been found.

“Shop workers at Asda downed tools to help look for him in the store

Harley was found around two miles from where he was reported missing.