POLICE have responded to concerns from the public about a nine day delay in reporting 13-year-old Jack Parfitt as missing.

Jack, who lives in Bittern Avenue, Abbeydale, Gloucester, was last seen at his home address 10.30am on June 20.

He left the house to play with a friend and he said he was going to the Balancing Pond in Coney Hill. He had about £2.50 to buy some chips. The friend returned home in the afternoon but Jack did not.

Many people showed concern that the police waited nine days to report Jack as missing and officers want to reassure the public that when a young person goes missing all resources are immediately deployed to find that person.

"Gloucestershire Constabulary have been working in conjunction Wiltshire Police to find 13 year old Jack Parfitt," said a spokesman for Gloucestershire police.

"We understand the public’s concern about what appears to be a delay from when Jack was reported missing, this fact being made public and the issuing of appeals for information.

"If it’s decided there should be no publicity in the first instance there will be compelling reasons why that decision was made.

"Gloucestershire Constabulary are continuing to do all they possibly can to find Jack who is still missing and believed to be in Swindon.

"Together with Wiltshire Police we will keep the public updated with information as and when it is appropriate to do so."

Jack is 5'2" tall, of stocky build, with blue eyes and blond hair.

He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a blue tracksuit top and black trainers. He has family and friends in Swindon and it's possible he may have travelled there.

Police would like to hear from anyone who has seen Jack or knows of his whereabouts to please call 101 quoting incident number 314 of 20th June 2015