How locals are being STOPPED from searching for a missing autistic boy, 14, because of Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions

The desperate search to find William Wall continues after he didn't return home

Volunteers hoping to help in the search for an autistic boy who went missing in dense bushland have been asked to stay home due to coronavirus restrictions.

William Wall, 14, was last seen heading out for his daily jog along the Yarra Ranges' Warburton Trail at 6.45am on Tuesday, promising his family he would be back in 15 minutes.

But he never returned to his home in Launching Place. 

William's distraught father Shane issued an emotional plea as police and State Emergency Service volunteers beagn scouring bushland and difficult terrain from the air and on the ground. 

'I just want him home, as simple as that,' he told Nine News as he fought back tears.

'Just get home. That's all I want and be well.'

 'At the moment, everyone's hoping that he's going to be okay,' he said.

As the search entered its second day, many locals were left fuming after being advised to keep an eye out for William, but not to breach Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions by limiting outdoor time to two hours. 

Police have advised volunteers to stay home saying: 'At this stage we do not require any assistance from the public'

'In line with coronavirus restrictions, at this stage we do not require any assistance from the public,' a post on the Eyewatch Yarra Ranges Police Facebook read. 

'We want to say a big thank you however, for the all the offers we have received.' 

Inspector Jason Goddard told 3AW they were encouraging residents to keep on the look out while out exercising and to report any sightings to Triple Zero immediately.

'We really do want the local residents within this area to check their backyards and check their structures.'

Local resident Tom Osburg said he was willing to break COVID-19 restrictions to assist in the search. 

He believes search parties made up by local volunteers were a valuable resource. 

In June, autistic boy William Callaghan, was found by a lone volunteer after he went missing at Mount Disappointment.

The autistic non-verbal teenager spent two days in treacherous bushland before being found by volunteer Ben Gibbs.   

The teenager went out for his daily morning jog along the Warburton Trail around 6.45am Tuesday morning but hasn't been seen since

Volunteer Ben Gibbs was hailed a national Australian hero after finding William Callaghan in think bush near the summit of Mount Disappointment in June

Mr Osburg said Melburnians should be given an exemption to be able to go and check their holiday homes for William Wall.

'Let people come up, just for a couple of hours from Melbourne, just to check their holiday homes.'

Rescue crews spent Tuesday night searching the area after temperatures plummeted to just 4C.

While William is autistic, he can communicate verbally.

He's described as 177cm tall, being of slim build, having mousy brown hair and a lazy right eye.

He was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, dark-coloured track pants, black running shoes and had a hydration pack across his chest.  

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria volunteers arrive to the Warburton Police state ahead of the search for missing autistic boy William Wall, in the Yarra Ranges, Melbourne

Autistic boy William Wall, 14, is missing in Victoria's Yarra Ranges, with emergency crews searching for him throughout the night