As the search for missing Aberdeen teenager Liam Smith entered a fourth day, police issued fresh video footage of him in the hope of prompting someone to remember his “distinctive gait”.
The 16-year-old Westhill Academy pupil went missing from the Queens Road area of Aberdeen on Saturday.
He was captured on CCTV entering Union Square shopping centre at around 1pm, just before he boarded the 202 Stagecoach bus at 1.11pm.
The issued footage shows the distinctive way the 6’4” boy walks.
It is understood the teenager bought a ticket for Raemoir Road in Banchory and police activity has focused on this area since Tuesday afternoon to find out if he did indeed get off there.
Last night Chief Inspector Martin Mackay, who is leading the investigation said: “Our last confirmed sighting of Liam is at the Bus Station in Aberdeen on Saturday November 17.
“We are continuing to urge anyone who was in that area or who was on the 1.11pm 202 Stagecoach bus to Deeside to contact us.
“The bus would have made a number of stops at towns and villages including Cults, Peterculter, Drumoak, Crathes and Banchory and we are urging anyone who may have got on the bus at any of these stops or was perhaps meeting someone off the bus and saw Liam to contact us.
“It is hoped that by releasing the moving images of Liam, which shows his distinct gait, this helps jog people’s memories and think about if they saw him on Saturday.”
Chief Inspector Mackay added: “Saturday was a busy day in sport with the Scotland v South Africa rugby match and also Scotland playing Albania in the UEFA Nations League.
“We would hope that people may have an enhanced memory of their plans that day and if they were travelling in or out of Aberdeen City Centre they might remember seeing Liam.
“We know Liam is interested in sport and has played football with Westdyke, Banks o’Dee, Dyce Boys Club, Culter Boys Club and Glentanar.
“He is also a member of PureGym. It might have been that Liam was planning to meet friends or spoke to someone about the upcoming games and we would urge anyone who was in touch with him to contact police.”
Fellow Westdyke teammate Jonathan Watt took to social media yesterday to help share photos of Liam and urged everyone to “help find him”.
Liam is one of my Westdyke 17s squad and we desperately need to find him. His family and friends are all concerned and need your help in finding him. Please help, share etc. @yfst @westdykecc @WestdykeGirls @ADJFA2003 @ScottishYouthFA @sfa_north @NorthEPolice https://t.co/NvLCcsRsl2
— Jonathan Watt (@jgwatt70) November 21, 2018
Last night there had been no further sightings reported of the teenager.
Officers again went door-to-door around Banchory in the hope residents could help piece together Liam’s movements.
His “shocked and devastated” mother issued an emotional plea for him to come home.
Mrs Smith said: “We are so worried about him and really anxious to find him and take him home.
“If Liam sees this message I don’t want him to be concerned about being in any trouble.
“I just want to find him.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 101.
Liam was last seen wearing a dark top, blue jeans and Nike Air Max trainers. He is also understood to be carrying a camouflage North Face backpack.