THE NPAS helicopter assisted with two separate searches in Dorset on Tuesday night.

At 6.25pm, police received a report from a member of the public that a young boy had been seen walking on his own at the side of the A354 between the Tesco roundabout and the Wimborne Road roundabout at Blandford.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “A thorough search of the area was carried out, with support from the NPAS helicopter, but there was no trace of any boy.

“There were no relevant reports of any missing children in the area and no further sightings of the boy were reported.”

Then at 9.36pm, police received a report of concern for a man’s welfare who appeared to be distressed in the area of Dawes Avenue and Turbary Park Avenue in Bournemouth.

An extensive search of the area was carried out, with support from the NPAS helicopter, but the man was not located.