Matthew Harvey, aged 16, has Asperger syndrome and learning difficulties and he attends Cruckton Hall School, which caters for boys with a range of difficulties within the Autistic Spectrum of Disorders.
A group from the school was visiting the Blists Hill Victorian Town museum in Ironbridge today when at 12.20pm Matthew ran off after having an altercation with another pupil. He was last seen by the canal that runs next to the museum.
Matthew is small for his age at 4ft 8ins tall and is very slight. He is wearing tracksuit bottoms and a blue jogging top. He has quite short, spiky, light brown hair.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said: “Matthew has been missing for some hours and we are very concerned about his safety.
“He is a well-behaved boy and it is out of character for him to go off like this. He has family in Market Drayton and Bilston, and may be trying to travel there, but we don’t know whether or not he has any money on him.
“Matthew is shy and generally won’t talk to others but if someone speaks to him he will talk back.
“If anyone has seen a boy fitting his description and has information as to his whereabouts then please contact the police straight away on the non-emergency number 101. If you spot Matthew then please call 999.
“I would also like to make a personal appeal to Matthew to contact the police, his family or any other adult he knows well and trusts. You have not done anything wrong and we and your family need to know you are safe and well.”