A mum has spoken of her joy at finding her two-year-old son unharmed after a massive police hunt was launched when he disappeared for nearly an hour.

Toddler Robert Burton went missing on Thursday afternoon from his home in Woodgrange Drive, Southend, having "escaped" while his mum Josephine Ludlain, 21, was in the bathroom.

Miss Ludlain said: "My first thought was he had been snatched. He and his pushchair had just gone too quickly."

She rushed out of the house but Robert had already gone out of sight. She raced to a friend for help and police cars and a helicopter joined the search within minutes.

"I was panicking and crying my eyes out. I didn't know where to look."

She was driven around in a police patrol car and spotted Robert in a newsagent's in Arnold Avenue more than 250 yards from his home.

Miss Ludlain, who is six months pregnant, added: "When he saw me he just wanted to come to me. He kept pointing to the helicopter and saying 'aeroplane', but he didn't understand that it had been out looking for him."

Robert had managed to escape by wriggling free from the pushchair as his mum prepared to leave to collect his five-year-old sister Charlotte.

He then climbed on the pushchair to reach the front door lock, letting himself out onto the busy road.

He wandered down Arnold Avenue, with his pushchair, and made his way to Christies Stores where he tried to reach the chewing gum on the counter.

The owner of the store, Francis Christie, saw the child and told him he was too young for it. Mrs Christie said: "Then I saw the pushchair on the other side of the road and went out and brought it in."

She then strapped him back in and waited for someone to collect him.

He later told his mum that he became scared when a dog started barking at him so he crossed the road into the shop.

This morning Robert was back playing at home, seemingly none the worse for the drama.

His mum added: "I was just so happy and relieved to have him back safely. You don't know what to think when that happens.

"I have told him not to go out on his own because it is dangerous. I don't know whether he will remember or not but I won't let him out of my sight."

What's all the fuss about? - Robert back home with his mum

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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