FOUR teenagers helped police find a 12-year old boy who was missing for five hours in a country park.

The boy was at Shorne Country Park with his mum and some friends when he was reported missing.

He had hidden in the woods as a game and lost track of time. He fell asleep, then when he woke up and saw the police he panicked and ran back into the woods.

Hundreds of police officers, sniffer dogs and a police helicopter started to search the woodland and members of the public, including the four teenagers, offered to help.

Luke Sabourin, one of the teenagers, was at the park with his girlfriend, Andrea Westrap, her friend Sarah Harris and boyfriend Joe Ginn.

The 17-year-old, of Balliol Road, Welling, and his friends tried to look for the boy and when the police arrived they were positioned at the park entrance with a torch in case the boy turned up.

Luke said: "I got the torch and was shining it about, turned to the right and beamed it into the wood and there he was with his head in his hands. It was as if he was asleep."

They picked him up and took him to his mother: "The look on her face was something else," said Luke.

The mother, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was the most terrifying experience of my life.

"Although I wanted to stay positive, inevitably the worst case scenario did creep into my mind and the whole ordeal was one I hope we never have to repeat as a family.

"So many people in the woods offered to stay and help. And the teenagers who in the end found Elliot were fantastic. I cannot thank them or the police enough.

"My son was safe and well. He was pretty shocked by the whole experience and feels very humble now and I'm pretty sure he's learnt a very big lesson."

The boy went missing at 4.30pm on Sunday September 24 and was reunited with his mother five hours later.