Mother left in car park by couple on ferry trip

A couple alerted police at one of Britain's busiest ports after accidentally leaving their elderly mother behind in a car park at Dover while taking a ferry trip to France.

The pair made an urgent call to the Port of Dover Police after discovering mid-way across the Channel that their relative was still sitting in the vehicle in the multi-storey car park.

Officers managed to locate the woman and gave her a drink, before her flustered relatives, who are thought to be from Merseyside, returned to collect her.

The incident is reminiscent of the film Home Alone in which young boy Kevin is left at home by mistake when his family goes on holiday.

A Port of Dover Police spokesman said: "On March 22 in the morning, a couple made a phone call to police regarding an elderly mother who had been left in their car in the multi-storey car park at the port.

"Officers went to the vehicle, found the lady and took care of her, giving her a drink and making sure she was safe, until approximately four hours later when they returned."

The incident warranted a special mention in the Port of Dover Police's monthly report for March.

The document reads: "And finally, an unusual telephone request for assistance was received in the Police Control Room from a couple who were on board a ferry that had just left Dover advising that they had forgotten that their elderly mother was still in their car that they had parked in the multi-storey car park ahead of their day trip.

"Officers located the vehicle and ensured the safety and welfare of the elderly lady until her 'grown-up' children returned several hours later ..."