Police track down boy who cleared up after a football game to thank him

Police launched an appeal for the boy's parents or family to get in touch so they could thank him

Police have tracked down a young boy who helped them clean up after a football match after launching an appeal to thank him.

The boy stayed behind after Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby to help officers clear up police tape outside Newcastle United's St James' Park stadium.

CCTV captured the youngster giving a helping hand before running off the way he'd come.

Police launched an appeal for the boy's parents or family to get in touch so they could thank him.

A Northumbria police spokesperson said: “Police are looking forward to meeting the derby day helper after a video of him cleaning up after Sunday’s match went viral.

“Yesterday the force released CCTV footage in a bid to find the young football fan who stayed behind after the full-time whistle to help officers clear up police tape from an area outside of the stadium

“The video of the little lad helping officers went viral and in just 24 hours it had been shared by more than 5,500 people and reached more than half a million social media users.

“It has also been covered in local and national papers and thanks to this coverage the mother of the young lad has been in touch. We’ll be making contact with the family today and plans are afoot to say thank you.”

Chief Superintendent Steve Neill said: "We'd love for this little boy and his parents or guardians to contact us so we can arrange to say thank you properly for the helping hand he gave our officers on Sunday after the match.

"He played his part in what was a very successful policing operation on derby day and it’s only right that he gets his thanks from myself and the force for the work he put in."