THE family of missing youngster Daniel Entwistle are "playing a waiting game" according to the boy's Burnley aunt.

Cath Entwistle, 40, of Bevington Close, Burnley, said the whole family were stuck in limbo waiting for news of Daniel and hoping and praying for his safe return.

Daniel, 7, disappeared more than a week ago while playing near the river Yare at his new home in Great Yarmouth.

The youngster moved to Norfolk three years ago with parents David, 41, and Paula, 30, after growing up in Peel Street, Padiham.

Cath, who has a 15-year-old daughter Katie, said: "It is very hard at the moment because nobody knows what has happened and there is very little anyone can do.

"It is just a case of playing the waiting game and hopefully getting a phone call to say he is OK."

Last week Daniel's parents delivered leaflets appealing for information to houses near the spot where their son was thought to have played shortly before disappearing.

Daniel vanished shortly after leaving his home in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, at about 5pm on Saturday May 3.

A bicycle thought to belong to the youngster was found near the raised bank of the tidal river Yare, less than a mile from the little boy's home.

Police fear the youngster might have fallen about 15ft into the river while playing on the bank, but they have not ruled out the possibility that he was abducted.

Mr and Mrs Entwistle today helped police deliver 5,000 leaflets to houses in the area where Daniel lives, along with children from a local youth group.

Police hope that the leaflets, which show a picture of Daniel and the red bicycle found near the river, might jog people's memories and unearth some new clues.

Pensioner Joe Zugor on Friday told police he had seen Daniel playing by the riverbank a few hours before he vanished.

Searches of the Yare and nearby coastal areas have failed to reveal any trace of the youngster.