TOWN OUT IN FORCE FOR MISSING TEEN
HUNDREDS of people yesterday gathered in the hunt for a teenager who went missing from the Royal Welsh Show to show how much “he is loved”.
James Corfield, 19, hasn’t been found since disappearing at around midnight on Monday night from the ground in Llanelwedd.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys and South Wales Police, specialist teams and volunteers have been searching around Builth Wells for James and have deployed a drone in a bid to find him.
Yesterday around 200 people showed up outside Montgomery Town Hall at 11am to show their support for the search – all wearing blue, which was the colour of the T-shirt James was wearing when he went missing.
Local cricket clubs, his football team-mates from Montgomery FC and locals came together to urge everyone to keep up the search for the 19-year-old – and in a show of strength, made as much noise as they could to show James how much everyone in the area wants him home.
Town crier Susan Blower urged locals to “keep this message alive” in a passionate speech.
She said: “To see the comradery of a sea of blue is so incredible supporting the Corfield family and wishing and willing for the safe return of our lovely James.
“The power of the internet is absolutely incredible.
“We need James back. People need to know across the country what has happened here in Wales and we need to know that he’s loved and he’s wanted home.”
Gemma Owen, a young farmer, said at the gathering: “On behalf of the young farmers’ movement, we would like to show our love and support for the Corfield family and a safe return for our friend James – we miss you.”
Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire, said: “Although I didn’t know James, I do know his family and I just think we all hope that James gets found and comes home as soon as possible.
“That’s what my hope and prayer is. I know the family want to make sure that people are continuing to share on social media and that the news continues to report pictures of James because we want James to came home safely as soon as possible.”
Sam Williams, 32, captain of the Mongomery cricket team, said the club have been overwhelmed by the support of other local cricket teams.
He said: “As a captain James is the perfect person to play for your team. He’s an absolute star. He’s a very well-mannered, polite young man and a real family boy.
“He’s very reliable and very passionate about cricket.
“He’s a fantastic bowler and he’s our leading wicket taker and our leading run scorer.
“It’s such a family club and the Corfields are such a big part of it. The Corfields made me feel welcome and part of the club.”
He added that their game yesterday was cancelled because of James, as was Montgomery football club’s match.
The show of solidarity comes as police had urged people not to attend the search site due to the specialised nature of the search and for their own safety.
Superintendent Jon Cummins said: “While we fully understand the concern from the community and the desire to assist in the search for James, it is vitally important at this stage that we have only specially-trained officers and our partners out there looking for him.
“Staying away is the best possible assistance the public can give us today and of course reporting any new information they may have to us by calling 101 immediately. Thank you for your support in sharing our appeals so far.”
His family are appealing for anyone with information to come forward after saying their son’s disappearance is “totally out of character”.
His mother Louise said: “We’re grateful for the many volunteers who are helping to search for him, but we still can’t find him and need your help. Where is he?
“We love you James.”