FRANTIC SEARCH — 10:30PM LAST SEEN AS MAP REVEALS FINAL MOVEMENTS OF MISSING 14-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR CHARLTON AFTER SHOES FOUND NEAR RIVER TAW

A major search operation is continuing for 14-year-old Taylor Charlton, who has been missing for two weeks in Barnstaple, Devon, with police saying he may have entered the River Taw following a series of concerning discoveries along the riverbank.

Taylor was last seen at a Tesco Extra car park on Station Road at around 10.30pm on May 8. That CCTV sighting remains the last confirmed moment he was recorded before disappearing.

He was reported missing the following day at 5.15pm, prompting a large-scale police response involving extensive CCTV reviews, house-to-house enquiries, and coordinated searches across the surrounding area.

As investigators reconstructed his final known movements, attention has increasingly focused on the river after key items were discovered nearby.

A pair of shoes, believed to belong to Taylor, were found on two consecutive days along the high tide line of the River Taw. Police say the items were located approximately 480 metres apart between Sticklepath and Bickington.

The discovery has significantly increased concerns that the teenager may have entered the water.

In response, specialist search teams have concentrated efforts along the River Taw and its estuary. Drones, police helicopters, and ground units have all been deployed to search a wide and challenging area affected by strong tidal movement.

Sector Inspector Andy Wills confirmed that CCTV footage shows Taylor heading in the direction of the river shortly before he disappeared. He added that all lines of enquiry remain open as the investigation continues.

Despite extensive searching of fields, riverbanks, and surrounding terrain, there has been no further confirmed sighting since the 10:30pm CCTV record.

Police have also urged the public not to circulate unverified information online, warning that speculation could hinder the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities on 999, quoting reference number 50260117084.

As the search enters its second week, the 10:30pm sighting and the riverbank discoveries remain central to efforts to understand what happened in the final hours before Taylor vanished.