Bottles and debris at Devil's Ditch

The area where police investigations centre is known as Devil's Ditch.

Surrounded by trees, nettles, and foliage, the ground is littered with empty alcopop bottles, cigarette butts and crisp packets.

Last night, groups of "boy racers" sat in cars overlooking the den, revving their engines as they showed off to TV cameras.

Dozens of other youths, dressed in hooded tops and jeans, flocked to the scene.

One passer-by said: "There are always groups of children here, smoking, drinking and causing trouble." Back at Anthony's home, the community is in shock. It is a working class suburb where there is little traffic and children wander the streets freely.

Anthony lives with his mother and four young brothers and sisters in a small detached threebedroom house.

Children's toys are scattered around the porch outside a bright orange front door. Today there was a bunch of flowers in the front window.

Neighbour Edna Gray said she could not understand how he disappeared.

"He's a lovely little lad and normally he didn't go any further than the end of the street and back playing with his toys," she said.

"He has a scooter and a plastic truck. He is always chatty and comes to say hello to me to show off his new toys.

"He says it's his birthday and promises to buy me a bun. But when I saw him yesterday after the attack he looked very sad and upset and said nothing to me at all.

"His mother lifted his head to show me the marks on his neck. Anthony seemed to be in shock."

She added: "This is a good community where everyone knows each other and looks out for each other."

Margaret King, 46, said: "There's always children playing around here, especially during the school holidays.

"They've got to play somewhere, haven't they?"