Warning for child runaways

Children were yesterday warned of the dangers and distress caused by running away from home after the 12-year-old daughter of Anne Atkins, the newspaper agony aunt, was found safe and well.

Mrs Atkins, an outspoken Christian and moralist, has said her daughter Adelaide had had an "adventure".

Police found her in Hammersmith, west London, after receiving a tip-off following a public appeal. She had disappeared from her home in Fulham 37 hours earlier, after leaving a note on the kitchen table saying: "Back shortly, don't worry". A note in her diary said "Today - I depart".

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said last night: "As a matter of course, we would always point out to children the dangers of running away and the distress it causes to family and friends.