A four-year-old boy found wandering alone in Westcliff has been reunited with his delighted and relived family.

Little Oliver was found in Westborough Road by a passer-by at breakfast time.

PC Robert Bell, based at Shoebury and one of the officers called to the scene, said he was "thankful it had all ended well".

He added: "Oliver had got up earlier than the rest of his family, got out of the house and wandered off, getting a bit lost.

"Luckily he was spotted by a member of the public, who contacted us."

Oliver was taken by officers to Southend police station where he was given breakfast and looked after while they began trying to locate his parents on the information the little boy had provided.

When Oliver's family woke up they realised he was missing and began a search for him near their home before contacting the police. Oliver's adventure lasted about three hours.

Published Wednesday August 14, 2002

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