A sharp-eyed shopkeeper, who alerted CCTV operators, was the key to tracing three missing boys.
The woman called the CCTV suite after spotting Ben Wilson, and Rhys and Drew Hennebry, all from Witham, in Colchester's Sir Isaac's Walk.
Then operators tracked the youngsters along Head Street, through Balkerne Passage and across the footbridge over Balkerne Hill.
Aided by the information from the cameras, police officers found the missing children, aged nine, ten and 12, at St Mary's car park soon afterwards.
It ended a major search operation which had involved sniffer dogs, the Essex Police helicopter and specialist officers since the boys went missing on Sunday.
Robert Needham, Colchester Council's operational services manager, said tracing the missing boys was a success story for the council-run CCTV system.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article