Missing 14-year-old Bailey Gaffney from Basildon Essex

The family of a 14-year-old boy with mental health issues who went missing nearly a week ago are desperate to have him home.

Bailey Gaffney, from Basildon, Essex, disappeared on January 19 but has since been spotted getting on a train to Southend Central Station on January 21.

Since then there have been a number of sightings of him around Southend, police say.

Most recently they have had information he may be in the Hamstel Road area of the town.

He suffers from a number of mental health problems and was waiting to be assessed for autism before he went missing. 

One family friend wrote on Facebook: ‘Bailey if your reading this please message your mum she is worried sick hun whatever is troubling you there is always someone to talk to.

Please come home your mum is really worried about u xx’

Another commented: ‘Come on bailey if you are reading all of these think about family they will b missing you very much xx 

‘Go home or into the nearest police station don’t b another missing child please x’

Inspector Damon Bainbridge said: ‘We are very concerned for Bailey’s welfare and it’s really important we find him as soon as possible.

‘In recent days we’ve had information to suggest he has been in the High Street, Southchurch Boulevard and Hamstel Road areas.

‘We have followed up on this information as well as carrying out other proactive work to locate him.

‘I also want to thank the community in Southend for their help in trying to find Bailey. Your information has been really useful and I would urge anyone who has seen him or knows where he is to contact us.’

If you have any information about where Bailey is please call Basildon police station on 101.