Police follow-up two reported sightings of missing teenager

POLICE officers searching for a teenager missing following a night out in Wakefield more than a week ago revealed yesterday that they had received reports of two sightings of him.

Ben Manning, 17, has not been seen since he vanished in the early hours of Saturday, January 22, but police confirmed that following an appeal in Wakefield city centre at the weekend they had two fresh sightings of him at about the time he was last seen.

Yesterday, searches were continuing involving West Yorkshire Police's underwater search team and other specialist officers as well as house-to-house inquiries.

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Ben's family and friends were also in the city centre over the weekend handing out leaflets and continuing to search the area.

Police were in the area of Wakefield around the JCT 600 garage on Denby Dale Road early on Saturday speaking to passers by and motorists – a week on from the teenager's disappearance.

Altogether 127 seven cars, mainly taxis, were stopped and 54 pedestrians were spoken to, resulting in reports of two sightings of Ben in the area around the time he disappeared. These are now being followed up by police.

Ben, from Swillington, in Leeds, was reported missing by his mother, Christine, on Saturday January 22, after he failed to return home from a Friday night out in the city.

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He had been dropped off in the city centre by his mother and had been to watch his friend's band play a gig in The Black Flag in Smyth Street.

He was last seen near the JCT 600 garage on Denby Dale Road just after 1.30am having walked from Westgate, down Queen Street, along George Street at the side of Gala Bingo across Ings Road and along Denby Dale Road.

His last contact with family and friends was at around 1.30am on Saturday when he sent a text message to his mother.

Last week, his brother, Simon Manning, 26, made an emotional appeal for information saying said his brother was "the heart and soul of our family."

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Ben is described as white, about 5ft 8ins, slim, with light brown hair. When he disappeared he was wearing grey jeans, a black T-shirt and a grey fleece-type jacket.

The police again asked for anyone with information to call them on 01924 334716.