THE search for missing schoolboy Shaun Smith, who is believed to have drowned in a Blackburn canal, was continuing today.

Police have revealed they are following scores of lines of inquiry - including telephone calls made to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph claiming Shaun had been abducted.

The agonising wait for news was set to stretch into a fourth day for Lynne Bufton and Robert Smith, the parents of the seven-year-old.

Shaun, of Gloucester Road, was last seen falling into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal by a four-year-old friend on Saturday.

Part of the canal has been blocked off and the water level is being lowered in a bid to make the search easier.

Inspector Richard Bailey said: "We are following a number of lines of inquiry and not just a search of the canal.

"We have received a lot of information from the public, including two phone calls to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. "In a situation like this, we have to make sure that every line of inquiry is followed up properly."

Shaun's headteacher at Intack Primary School, Brian Peacock, said: "We have said prayers in assembly for Shaun and his family.

"Shaun is a bright little boy who does very well at school.

"He works hard and, just like many seven-year -old boys, he gets into mischief at times. The hardest part is not knowing as we tend to fear the worst.

"He is still missing until we know any different, and there is still the hope that he may turn up."

Shaun's mum Lynne said: "Everybody loves Shaun, and he is a very popular lad.

"About 100 people have been out searching for him, and everybody has been absolutely fantastic.

"I'd like to thank everyone for their response. We've had a lot of help and support from friends and family who have driven from Kent, Essex, Morecambe and Wales to be here."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.