Family of missing Lucas Dobson are asking people to help them check the river as they take on a new search tactic.

The six year old’s uncle, Lewis Tolman, announced on Facebook that the family would hold a meeting for volunteers at Sandwich Quay at 2pm.

At the meeting, one family member said: "We're not stopping until we've found him - if it takes a month, two months - we are not going anywhere until he's back."

They also informed helpers to adopt a new approach - stand in one spot and watch the water - rather than traipsing up and down the river.

Writing on the Search for Lucas Facebook page beforehand, Mr Tolman said: "We want you to just sit and watch the water as it’s always moving and if we’re all spread across the lake watching, we don’t need to keep back tracking over ourselves.

"With how many people there are, we could cover the whole river without moving."

People gathered at the quay, where a family member said: "We have an important message to get across to everybody.

"We are still looking for Lucas, we are not giving up on Lucas.

"We want to say thank you to everybody and we are trying to get across a straight message - if you're out looking, keep your eyes on the water.

"If you think you see something, call 101.

"Our one worry is to get Lucas back safe."

Another added: "Please keep kids away from the water - sit and watch the water."

Mr Tolman was at a candlelit vigil in Sandwich last night.

His request comes as police have thanked people for their help in looking for six-year-old Lucas, but asked for them to stop checking the river.

As the search moves in to its fourth day, Kent Police are concentrating their efforts to the river and have asked people to stay away but will not stop people from looking.

Reverend Peter Ould speaks about the community's support in the search for Lucas

Chief Inspector Mark Weller of Kent Police said: "I speak on behalf of all the emergency services when I say thank you for the help we have received – the efforts and compassion of volunteers has been heart-warming and their value and help cannot be overstated.

"However, we are now at a stage where the river is our sole focus, given the time that has passed since Lucas disappeared.

"I don’t think the dangers of the water have been lost on anybody since the weekend and as difficult as it is for us to ask, we are requesting people stay away from physically helping us search the river. This is for their own safety as well as that of emergency service workers in the area."

Chief Inspector Mark Weller of Kent Police says volunteers have been "absolutely amazing"

This evening, Ch Insp Weller spoke exclusively to the media and said everything volunteers had been doing in the search for Lucas had been "absolutely amazing".

He said: "I actually asked the family today, 'what more could we be doing for you?' and they said 'the support we've had from the community is enough, that is keeping us going at the moment'."

"They are going through an absolutely horrendous time," he added.

"The family liaison officer is doing a superb job of looking after them as best she can, but more of the same please – the ask today was simply about public safety.

"We do not want anyone else falling into the river but the help we've been getting is amazing and I'm so, so grateful for that."

Meanwhile, Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has also praised the community efforts during this difficult time.

She took to Twitter to say: "Desperately worrying that little Lucas Dobson is still missing but great to see the whole community across East Kent is working together to get him home.

"Moving words from Reverend Peter Ould leading prayers and supporting the family."

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich