Missing Ayrshire boy Carson Shephard was found hiding in wall cavity in his gran's loft by specialist officers.
The seven-year-old vanished last night sparking a frantic search with police asking neighbours to search their gardens and garages.
A huge emergency response including helicopters and dog teams joined the hunt overnight after the alarm was raised that Carson was last seen at his home in Afton Bridgend, New Cumnock around 7.20pm yesterday.
Locals formed search parties with online groups being set up to help with a coordinated search of an area which included a river and open fields.
Concerned people from all over Ayrshire and further afield arranged to head to the East Ayrshire village in a desperate bid to trace the lad.
Police confirmed this morning around 10.30am that Carson had been found safe and well.
It's understood that the youngster lives with his gran in New Cumnock.
A police spokesperson said: “He was found hiding in a wall cavity during a detailed search of his home address by specialist officers.”
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