Two decades ago, the disappearance of Daniel Entwistle from Great Yarmouth shocked a close-knit community and launched a desperate search for the seven-year-old.

Despite a major operation, which saw police frogmen scour the River Yare and officers comb buildings across South Denes, no trace of the schoolboy has ever been found.

The 20th anniversary of the day Daniel went missing is next Wednesday May 3.

The day in 2003 was the start of the May bank holiday weekend.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Police searching for missing Daniel Entwhistle

Police hope publicity at the start of this latest bank holiday weekend could prompt people with information to finally come forward.

Although more recently his name is rarely mentioned on the streets where he used to play, the case remains open, and in the last five years police have investigated 12 new pieces of information. 

None, however, have brought any closure. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Great Yarmouth Mercury's front page asks 'Where is Daniel?' after the seven-year-old went missing on May 3, 2003. The Great Yarmouth Mercury's front page asks 'Where is Daniel?' after the seven-year-old went missing on May 3, 2003. (Image: Archant)

Daniel, a pupil at Greenacre First and Middle School, had been playing outside with friends.

When he failed to return home for tea that evening, his parents, Paula and David, became concerned.  

READ MORE: Teacher's reaction to Daniel Entwistle’s disappearance from Great Yarmouth

They looked for him close to the family home in Copperfield Avenue, enlisting friends and neighbours to help them search. At 8pm, they called police, prompting a major investigation. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Search for missing Daniel Enwistle

Soon posters appeared everywhere of Daniel's face, his serious expression at odds with descriptions of the boy as being always ready with a smile and a joke. 

Over the following days, his family and the local community searched the streets, while police used sonar to search the bottom of the River Yare

Great Yarmouth Mercury: How the Great Yarmouth Mercury reported on the search for Daniel Entwistle on May 9, 2003. How the Great Yarmouth Mercury reported on the search for Daniel Entwistle on May 9, 2003. (Image: Archant)

There were potential sightings - one witness said Daniel may have been playing with a group of other boys at Trinity Quay around 3.30pm.  

The last sighting was at 5.05pm when he was captured on CCTV at a corner shop close to his home.

After that, he was not seen again. 

In the early hours of the following day, Daniel’s red BMX bike was found abandoned near to the river and Trinity Quay, leading some to assume he had fallen in the water. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A newspaper report from when the search for Daniel Entwistle was called off two months after he had disappered. A newspaper report from when the search for Daniel Entwistle was called off two months after he had disappered. (Image: Archant)

Over the following weeks the search continued. After two months, however, it was called off and the story soon faded from the headlines.

Four years to the day after Daniel's disappearance, Madeleine McCann went missing. 

Her case, and the resources and media attention it received, was sometimes compared to Daniel's. 

In a documentary broadcast in 2014, Daniel’s father David said that Madeleine McCann’s parents received “favoritism” over the campaign to find their daughter. 

Despite the comparisons, Norfolk police say they “remain committed to finding answers” for Daniel’s family. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Search for missing Daniel Enwistle

As the 20th anniversary of the disappearance approaches, unsolved case review manager Andy Guy said: “We recognise the enormity of two decades passing since Daniel went missing, and the impact this has had on his family in that time.

"We have continued to explore new lines of enquiry in this case in response to new and credible information,” he said. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Missing Daniel Enwistle's bike

Michael Jeal, whose borough council ward includes Copperfield Avenue, said: “It was a terrible tragedy for the Barrack Estate. Like everyone else, I would like to know what’s happened.  

“I send my condolences to his relatives," he added.

However, Mr Jeal had not heard anyone in the area mention Daniel’s name “in the last 15 years”. 

“There’s not many people who remember it now, which is a shame,” he said. 

In May 2013, police launched a fresh appeal to help provide some closure for his family.  

READ MORE: Community shocked at death of father of missing Norfolk boy Daniel Enwistle

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Daniel Entwistle's father David died in 2015. Daniel Entwistle's father David died in 2015. (Image: Archant)

Daniel’s father David, who was aged in his 50s, died in 2015. 

It was later revealed that Mr Entwistle had served a six-month jail sentence for having sex with a 12-year-old girl in 1987. 

As Daniel's case remains active, anyone who has credible information that has not been previously passed to the police can contact officers on 01953 423819 or email unsolvedcasereviews@norfolk.police.uk or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.