The family of a "dearly loved" teenage boy who has been missing for a week have issued a heartfelt plea for him to come home, telling him "you're not in any trouble".

James Gibbons was last seen a week ago heading towards woodlands in Cuxton, near Rochester.

As the search for the missing 16-year-old reaches its seventh day, police say they “remain hopeful” of reuniting him with his family.

In a statement released by James’ family to mark one week since he was last seen, his loved ones are urging anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police to come forward.

“Thank you to all of the individuals involved in the search for the James, including, the public, professionals and volunteers. We cannot express how grateful we are to you all,” they said.

“Cuxton is a very rural area and we will only find James with help from the public.

“Please could we ask you all to check your dashcams, ring doorbells and CCTV for any footage of James. Please also check any outbuildings and sheds or areas where James may have taken shelter.

“James, if you receive this message, please come home. Everyone is missing you and we love you dearly. You are not in any trouble. Love you lots.”

Outbuildings in the area where the missing teenager was last picked up on CCTV footage are among the current areas of focus.

Described as approximately 5ft 11ins tall with brown hair, James wears braces on his teeth and has a scar on the right side of the back of his head that is similar in shape to a question mark.

He is believed to have been wearing brown tracksuit bottoms, a grey zipped hooded top, a white shirt with a light brown/blue chequered pattern, black socks and black material trainers.

Speaking at a press conference, Detective Chief Inspector Garry Cook said: “Today marks one week since James was reported missing and sadly, despite an extensive search and wider investigation, we have so far been unable to find him.

“Regardless of the time that has passed we are hopeful of reuniting James with his family, and we have a large number of dedicated search officers and partner agencies committed to finding him.

“Searches have focused on the nearby rural and wooded areas which are popular with dog walkers and horse riders and we ask anyone who uses the area to keep an eye out for anything that may help in our search.

“I’d like to once again urge residents with private CCTV and drivers with dashcam to check for footage which may show James after 1pm on Saturday, November 9.”

Dozens of members of the public were set to meet today (November 16) to look for the youngster - but the search is said to have been postponed “for public safety” due to an active pheasant shoot in the area.

The police search continues.

This week, the Medway village has been filled with police officers and specialists tirelessly working to find the teen who was last seen at around 1pm last Saturday (November 9).

Thousands of people have joined the ‘Help Find James Gibbons’ Facebook group to offer their support, help, or ideas in the investigation.

Large banners have also been erected near busy roads and posters plastered around the surrounding villages.

Speaking to KentOnline earlier this week, shopkeeper Mel, who works at Best One in Cuxton, said everyone has been worried sick and wants him to be found as soon as possible.

“I cannot imagine what his parents are going through,” she said. “I have a son a similar age and it would be my worst nightmare.

“The whole village has been looking or helping in some way. We are all keeping our fingers crossed.

“On Sunday, I saw a lot of people searching and officers in the woods and ever since they have been here all week.

“We are all doing what we can but sometimes you feel helpless.”

Further up the road at the Co-Op shop, opposite the social club where police and search crews are set up, the store has set up a donation bank for people to buy things for the Gibbons family.

Kent Search and Rescue have also been called in to assist.

In the past few days alone, technicians, management teams and members from their dog unit have volunteered more than 500 hours of their time and trekked through a combined 258km, an area covering around 530 football pitches.

A spokesman said: “The team’s continued work would not have been possible if it were not for the support and donations from the local community in Cuxton.

“Also a huge thank you to Sallie Abrahamson and Jill Sayer from Cuxton Social Club and Golden River Chinese Takeaway.”

Police were establish an additional sighting of James on the day of his disappearance.

After revising additional CCTV footage, officers now know James walked into an alleyway off Woodhurst Close at 12.52pm and then continued in the direction of Cuxton Woods.

Anyone with information should call 999, quoting reference 09-1043.