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Police issue urgent appeal to help find ‘extremely vulnerable’ missing 14-year-old boy from Trafford
Can you help?
Danny Jones -
19th January 2024 
Greater Manchester Police have issued an urgent appeal to help locate a missing 14-year-old boy from Trafford described as very vulnerable after he failed to come home on Thursday evening.
Local teenager Luke Howe disappeared around 6:15pm in the village of Hale after school and was last seen around Nursery Avenue and Bankhall Lane, close to the local nursery and primary school and not far from the nearby Hale Golf Club.
Luke was last seen wearing his school uniform — a blue sweatshirt, dark grey trousers and trainers — and police have described him as being of slim build.
After being reported as missing last night, police put out their first public plea at 11:53pm, providing an update an hour later after his family supplied more a recent picture of him.
Friends and family have now been taking to social media to urge others to reach out with any information they might have, sharing more current images of him.
Posting on Facebook, his auntie Jessica Howe implored everyone to “share as far and wide as possible”, stressing that Luke is “extremely vulnerable” and stating that the police have encouraged “any and everyone who can get out on the streets around Hale, Sale, Altrincham, Wythenshawe” to please do.
Howe went on to add that “he is drawn to waterways so we have been focusing on the Bollin and the Mersey. Any woodlands, off-road, on-road in the area. We just need as many people as possible as soon as possible – this is absolutely time-critical”.
Detailing that Luke has global developmental delays, she explained that he “has run away from his grandparents’ home” and “is known to put himself in dangerous situations so we are all incredibly concerned”. His family have also created a Facebook group for people to post updates.
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She also asked that people check things like CCTV and Ring doorbell cameras to see if he might have passed in the last 15 hours or so.
The missing Trafford boy is not thought to have any money or a phone on his person and police are now urging people to come forward with any and all information they might have.
If you think you might have seen Luke or can help in any way, please get in touch with the police on 101 or call 999 directly quoting log 2710 of 18/01/2024.
Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police/Family handout
