DETECTIVES were warning today that missing seven-year-old Daniel Entwistle might never be found.

Burnley-born Daniel, who, vanished from his home in Great Yarmouth on Saturday, is thought to have been playing on the raised bank of a tidal river shortly before he vanished.

Police said that if the youngster, a non-swimmer, had had fallen into the River Yare, he could have been swept away and his remains might not be recovered.

Detectives stressed that they were still considering all options and had not ruled out the possibility that he was abducted.

But they are considering the possibility that Daniel was playing on the wall bordering the river and then fell.

"If Daniel has fallen and been swept out to sea, then it is possible he might not be found -- that is something we have to consider," said Det Supt Julian Gregory, who is leading the investigation.

"At some stage we will have to scale down the search, but we are not at that stage yet. And I want to stress that we continue to keep an open mind and need to hear from anyone with any information."

Daniel's father, David Entwistle, 41, said: "If he's gone into water, it's a complete tragedy. He could not swim at all.

"It's just a possibility that he's still out there, he's still alive, that's keeping us going."

Mr Entwistle said his wife, Paula, 30, was "going through hell".