Boys missing for 24 hours on school trip found safe

An investigation began last night after three boys who went missing for nearly 24 hours on a school field trip were found more than 10 miles away.

An investigation began last night after three boys who went missing for nearly 24 hours on a school field trip were found more than 10 miles away.

The boys, aged nine, 12 and 13, disappeared on a trip to the Coldwell Reservoir at Widdop, near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, on Tuesday afternoon. They were found by police officers in Burnley yesterday.

The boys were in a party of five children and two adults from a special needs school in Colne. Two other children also disappeared but were soon returned. The boys were being held at a police station in the town last night as officers tried to discover where they had spent the 20 hours. They were said to be "in good physical condition" and did not need medical attention.

However, the incident prompted questions about how such young children were able to disappearfor so long.