A community rallied together to search for a missing six-year-old.

Police were inundated with offers of help from members of the public when a search was launched for the boy who went missing from his home in Alcester Road, Wallington, on Wednesday last week.

Officers from Sutton’s safer parks teams were first on scene in response to a 999 call, and were told by a distraught mother and grandmother they had found their front door open, and the child gone.

From a base in the street, Safer Parks Sergeant Mark Dolce immediately organised a search of local streets and parks involving local officers with the support of Dog Units and the MPS Air Support Unit helicopter.

Within just a few minutes, officers were joined by 14 local residents who wanted to help. Passing motorists offered to help too and other offers of help were made at the Safer Neighbourhoods Team base at Crosspoint House, Stafford Road, Wallington.

The boy was found safe and well by a member of the public an hour later in Pound Street, Carshalton.

The child was quickly reunited with his mother.

Sgt Dolce said: "I would like to pass on my thanks to all those members of the public who so quickly and willingly wanted to help in our search for this child."