Police to review why missing boy wasn't found under bed

Police are to look at how a boy was found hiding under his bed after a huge police search and rescue operation had been launched to find him.

A nine year old from Dunston, Gateshead, had been reported missing after his parents went into his room to get him up for school but found his bed empty.

They had last seen him the night before on Monday at 9.30pm after tucking him in and he had not been seen at school either.

But after dozens of officers were called in to help find him, including ahelicopter, sniffer dogs and boats on the River Tyne, he was found in a cupboard under his bed.

Northumbria Police said they would now look into why he was not found during their initial searches.

They said:

"An initial search of the house had been conducted throughout the morning but the compartment had not been checked by either police or (the boy's) family.

"He has now been reunited with his family and we will be reviewing why he was missed in our initial searches."